from ARMANDO DOMINGOS in Maputo, Mozambique
MAPUTO, (CAJ News) – VIOLENCE perpetrated by Islamists as well as extreme weather caused by climate change are denying thousands of healthcare in Mozambique.
The violence in the north of the country and the cyclones that have hit the Southern African country in recent years have seen the destruction of health facilities.
Healthcare workers have fled the north because of terror by the Islamists.
According to an assessment made by local health experts, 39 health facilities out of 55 – or 71 percent of them — in nine conflict-affected Cabo Delgado districts are non-operational.
In addition, 686 health professionals have fled their places of work due to insecurity.
The violence and lack of health care has forced more than 500 000 people to flee their homes in the Cabo Delgado region.
“The number of diseases has risen significantly,” said Rodrigo Armanda, a local health director.
The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) estimates that more than 2 400 people have died since 2017 in the Cabo Delgado province.
Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said the people of Mozambique were facing a triple humanitarian crisis with persistent threats due to climate change, an upsurge of violence and the coronavirus pandemic and cholera.
“We remain at the side of Mozambique in these challenging times and will scale up our support,” Maurer assured.
– CAJ News