ISIS laying a siege around northern Mozambique

Nahla Abdelmonem

Humanitarian conditions continue to get worse in Cabo Delgado Province northern Mozambique after militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria overran Balama city in the same province.

ISIS capture of the city forced a large number of its residents out of it. Those fleeing the violence in the city end up in a camp in Pemba City, according to a humanitarian aid worker.

The same worker said humanitarian conditions have become so difficult in northeastern Mozambique.

Residents escaping Balama had to travel a long distance on foot to reach the camp in Pemba.

The aid worker said the camp is overcrowded with people in the absence of all types of care and drinking water.

Terrorism driving people out of their homes

Growing violence in Cabo Delgado Province since 2017 has left around 2,600 people dead. He same violence has displaced 670,000 people, most of them ended up in Pemba. This is contributing to the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in parts of Mozambique affected by the violence.

The ongoing violence makes it difficult for aid organizations to do their work or reach affected areas.

This threatens the lives of tens of thousands of people in the areas affected by the violence.

The same violence increases the suffering of the African continent, one that was made worse by growing terrorist activities in the continent.