The United Nations organizations, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Food Programme (WFP), have called for "urgent global action" to respond to a trio of crises - conflict, climate shocks and a deteriorating socio-economic situation - that Mozambique is facing.

"These complex challenges have left millions of people in need of emergency food aid. Continued fighting, the devastating impacts of recent tropical cyclones and El Niño induced drought have also exacerbated the humanitarian situation, with women and girls disproportionately affected," the organizations' statement reads.

According to a VOAThe alert comes after a joint visit to Mozambique by the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, and the WFP's Deputy Executive Director, Carl Skau.

The trip included a visit to Cabo Delgado province, in the districts of Macomia, Pemba and Mecufi, where attacks and climatic disasters have affected the region.

"The crisis in Mozambique requires more attention; we find families devastated by conflict, and Cyclone Chido has destroyed what little they had left," Skau said in a statement. "Humanitarian efforts to provide life-saving food and other assistance need more support. We also need to help people rebuild their lives to withstand these recurring crises," he stresses.

The escalation of violence in northern Mozambique has displaced 715,000 people, while cyclones Chido and Dikeledi have affected 680,000 people, say OCHA and the WFP.

"The communities have made it very clear: their main priorities are lasting peace, durable housing solutions and education for their children," says Joyce Msuya.

The WFP recalls that "only 3% of the total amount of funding (619 million dollars) needed to reach 2.4 million people in critical need of humanitarian assistance has been received this year".

According to the humanitarian organization, 170 million dollars are needed "urgently" to provide assistance over the next six months in order to "avoid a large-scale hunger crisis".

(Photo DR)