The World Bank will provide $100 million to support the Mozambican government in its plan to rebuild Cabo Delgado, a province affected by incursions by armed groups since 2017announced this Monday an official source.
"With the recently reconquered areas, we realize that there are many people who want to go back to their home areas. But they can't go back unless the basic conditions have been created. As a result, we have an additional $100 million for support," said Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, World Bank Country Director for Mozambique.
The official was speaking to the media, moments after a meeting between the Prime Minister, Carlos Agostinho do Rosário, and heads of diplomatic missions to discuss the Reconstruction Plan for Cabo Delgado.
According to Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, the new support from the World Bank joins a first grant (also amounting to $100 million), announced in April and which was earmarked for the Northern Integrated Development Agency (ADIN), which is promoting social and economic projects for youth inclusion throughout the northern part of the country.
In the new grant, which is expected to be disbursed in January, the World Bank wants the money to be invested in the reconquered areas in the north of the province, and psychosocial support, reconstruction of public buildings, and restoration of basic services are among the priorities.
"The idea is to give the affected people a decent place to live after the traumas they have suffered," Pswarayi-Riddihough said.
The Reconstruction Plan for Cabo Delgado, approved in September by the Mozambican government, is budgeted at 300 million dollars, of which almost 200 million are destined for the implementation of short-term actions, which include the re-establishment of public administration, health units, schools, energy, and water supply, among other aspects.
According to the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Ludovina Bernardo, the executive's priority is to ensure a gradual and safe return of the population to the recaptured areas, while at the same time creating the basic conditions.
"We want to make interventions on the ground, but safeguarding security. Our forces are on the ground and, as soon as they ensure that the return of families to their areas of origin is possible, the process will begin", declared the vice-minister, pointing, as an example, to the return of the populations of Palma, which has already begun.
Also the United Nations resident representative in Mozambique, Myrta Kaulard, assured that the organization will continue to support the government in the process, highlighting the importance of the "classic interventions" of the entity in cases of humanitarian crises.
"I would like to remind you that on the humanitarian side, international partners have contributed a total of $160 million in the year 2021 alone. It is important to continue this humanitarian support, while promoting reconstruction," stressed Myrta Kaulard, who also highlighted the importance of creating a working group among international partners to combine actions and broaden appeals in the face of the humanitarian crisis in the north of the country.
Lusa Agency