Climate and Conflict
Conflict and climate change are driving a double crisis, forcing millions from their homes.
What is happening in Mozambique?
Mozambique is facing one of the world’s fastest growing displacement crises. Conflict, poverty, and climate disasters are driving more and more people from their homes.
Since 2017, armed attacks in the northern province of Cabo Delgado have displaced over one million people. Many people have been displaced more than once, as violence spreads across towns and villages. Most displaced families can’t return home and are left sleeping outdoors, exposed to harsh weather and disease.
To make things worse, families already displaced by conflict are being hit again by extreme weather. In late 2024, Cyclone Chido damaged over 150,000 homes. Then came Cyclones Dikeledi, Jude, and Gezani damaging tens of thousands more – leaving people trapped in cycles of displacement.
The need for shelter is overwhelming, but aid efforts are underfunded as global crises grow.
Flooding in Mozambique
Recently, there has been significant flooding affecting more than 800,000 people. We are working to respond to the flooding, with needs assessments underway.
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Where is Mozambique?
Mozambique is on the southeastern coast of Africa overlooking the Indian Ocean.
It shares borders with Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Eswatini. It has a tropical climate and typically experiences one wet and one dry season a year.
Mozambique has a population of approximately 28 million (INE, 2017). 68% live in rural areas and 60% live along the coastline. Livelihoods in Mozambique depend largely on natural resources.
It is estimated that 46.1% of the of the population is living below the poverty line.
The conflict in Mozambique
The conflict in northern Mozambique has been causing widespread displacement since 2017. It is one of the fastest growing displacement crises in the world.
In December 2023, rising violence broke out across the Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique, uprooting people from their homes.
People are having to move again and again as areas become unsafe because of the escalating violence. More than 780,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.
The need for shelter is huge, with families sleeping outdoors, exposed to harsh weather, disease and other protection risks.
Why is there a conflict in Mozambique?
Mozambique is one of the most unequal countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Combined with extremely high levels of poverty, this has created high levels of social tension.
In October 2017, an extremist group known as Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama launched attacks on the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
The group has since carried violent attacks on innocent people, government forces, and military installations.
The violent attacks have been concentrated on the coast of Cabo Delgado, from Pemba city to the Tanzanian border. But, as the violence increases further, it is now beginning to spread into provinces such as Niassa.
In November and December 2024, fresh attacks have caused more areas to become unsafe. As a result, thousands more people have had to flee their homes.
Who is affected?
Over one million people have left their homes due to the conflict. Of these, 80% are women and children.
90% of people report shelter as their most urgent need, followed by food. Most people are staying with family and friends in host communities, whose resources are already strained.
Support our workHow do conflict and climate overlap to drive displacement in Mozambique?
Mozambique is facing a double crisis – conflict and climate change. Together they’re forcing more and more people to leave their homes, sometimes more than once.
In the north, violence in Cabo Delgado has already pushed hundreds of thousands of people to flee. But even after escaping the fighting, many families are displaced again. This time by extreme weather like cyclones, floods, and droughts.
Because of climate change, storms are getting stronger and more destructive. Back to back cyclones and tropical storms cause flooding and widespread displacement for people already affected by conflict.
People are losing their homes and belongings again and again, with barely any time to recover before the next crisis happens. Even those already living in temporary shelters are being hit by storms, making it even harder to rebuild their lives.
Farming and fishing communities are especially vulnerable, as their way of life depends on the land and sea. When floods destroy crops or storms damage boats and homes, people are left with no way to earn a living – and no choice but to move.
When they move, they often end up in overcrowded shelters or camps, with limited food, clean water, or healthcare. And the communities hosting them are struggling too, as more people arrive and resources run low.
Mozambique has done little to cause climate change, yet it’s one of the countries suffering the most. About 60% of its people live in low-lying coastal areas – right in the path of rising seas and extreme weather.
Climate and Conflict Explained
ShelterBox’s response
Since 2021, we’ve partnered with CARE Mozambique to support over 120,000 people displaced by conflict and a series of cyclones.
Together we’ve provided emergency shelter and items like thermal blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, and rechargeable solar lights.
In June 2023, we worked with CARE Mozambique and other aid groups to support thousands of people who had been living in settlement sites for a long time.
We also looked at the environmental impact of shelter materials, including plastic reuse and recycling. With Mozambique vulnerable to extreme weather, and climate change making storms more severe, we have been storing aid with our partner in the country so we can respond more quickly.
In July 2024, we moved aid ahead of the annual cyclone season. It meant when Cyclone Chido struck in December, we were able to distribute tarpaulins, blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, and solar lights to thousands of affected people within days.
For our conflict response, we’re supporting people displaced by conflict in Cabo Delgado. Communities have had training and built the timber frames for hundreds of transitional shelters.
Community training sessions are a critical part of our responses as they give residents the technical skills to rebuild and repair their shelters going forward.
Aid distributions in Mozambique.
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How are we adapting our response to address climate?
Mozambique is vulnerable to extreme weather, and climate change is making storms more severe. We have been listening closely to local communities to understand what kind of support they need most. By storing aid with our partner in the country, we can respond more quickly to the next disaster. It means we don’t have to wait weeks for shipments or find the right materials in local markets.
In July 2024, we moved aid ahead of the annual cyclone season. It meant when Cyclone Chido struck in December 2024, we were able to distribute tarpaulins, blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, and solar lights to thousands of affected people within days.
Looking ahead, we’re exploring using hurricane strapping – a simple, low-cost way to make shelters stronger and more resistant to high winds and heavy rain.
How does climage change affect disasters?
