Funding shortages may force the World Food Program (WFP) to interrupt in February basic assistance to about one million people affected by armed violence in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, the agency warned yesterday.

"WFP's funding situation has been worrying for some time and now we are running out of options and all these activities are at risk," said Antonella D'Aprile, WFP's representative in Mozambique, in a note sent to Lusa today.

According to WFP's representative in Mozambique, the agency needs $51 million to continue providing assistance to conflict-affected populations.

"The number of displaced people has quadrupled to almost one million people in the last two years," Antonella D'Aprile said, warning that without additional support the agency may stop assistance in February, the "peak" of the "hunger season" in the country.

"Cabo Delgado is the province with the greatest food insecurity in Mozambique and the situation continues to deteriorate," she stressed.

According to the source, armed violence in Cabo Delgado has intensified in recent months, with attacks on districts near the provincial capital (Pemba) and in the neighboring province of Nampula, forcing more people to flee their villages.

"In addition to challenges in funding its food assistance operations, WFP faces funding shortfalls for the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), which it administers on behalf of the entire humanitarian community," Antonella D'Aprile added.

Cabo Delgado province has been known to face an armed insurgency promoted by rebels for five years, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The insurgency has led to a military response since a year ago with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

In five years, the conflict has already caused one million displaced people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and about 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project. (Lusa)