The World Food Programme (WFP) restarted operations in Cabo Delgado province yesterday after suspending activities for a week following an attack on one of its trucks carrying aid for the victims of Cyclone Chido.
The truck was attacked and looted in the Ntocota area in Metuge district on 29 December. The perpetrators, who have not yet been publicly identified, stole emergency food supplies assigned to communities affected by Cyclone Chido, including rice, split peas and vegetable oil, the WFP told Zitamar News.
“The humanitarian operations were temporarily paused in Cabo Delgado on December 29, 2024. Following a thorough assessment of the situation, the operations resumed on January 6, 2025,” it said in a statement.
“WFP is actively engaging with local authorities to address this incident and will continue to advocate for the protection of humanitarian operations to ensure the safe delivery of assistance to those in need,” it added.
The Metuge district administrator, Salésio Manuel Paulo, told Radio Moçambique that the attackers had terrorised the villages of Nacopo and Nicavo before robbing the truck.
“We would like to express our concern about the behaviour of some resident children who, driven by a spirit contrary to the well-being of the population, have been disrupting and robbing vehicles that are heading to this area to provide assistance to those affected [by Cyclone Chido],” he said.
“We will continue to work together with local structures to identify the offenders so that they can be neutralised and held accountable.”
Although Islamic State backed-insurgents were present in Metuge as recently as November last year, authorities have not suggested so far that they were responsible for the attack.
Cyclone Chido hit Cabo Delgado on 15 December, killing at least 118 people and damaging or destroying 102,000 homes, according to authorities.
United Nations agencies, including the WFP, issued a flash appeal for donations to support 320,000 people in the most affected areas.
WFP Mozambique says it is currently facing a funding shortfall of $211.7m, or 82% of its stated requirements.
This article was produced by Zitamar News under the Cabo Ligado project, in collaboration with ACLED. The contents of the article are the sole responsibility of Zitamar News.
