The wave of displaced persons registered at the beginning of September in Nampula was caused by rebel incursions into villages and communities of two districts located in the extreme north of the province, on the natural border line with Cabo Delgado. The people who fled were sheltered mainly in Namapa, the main town of the district of Eráti, by relatives and people of good will.

"Several initiatives to support these displaced people have already started, coordinated by the government and partners. We will support them on two levels: food and non-food assistance," added the delagate.

The district of Eráti already had nearly five thousand displaced people coming from Cabo Delgado, a group that, according to INGD, will also be supported under these initiatives.

The incursions of these groups, which are said to have crossed from Cabo Delgado to the south bank of the Lúrio River, had as their main targets in the province of Nampula the districts of Eráti and Memba.

The Lúrio River is the natural border between the provinces of Cabo Delgado and Nampula to the south.

Cabo Delgado has faced an armed insurgency since 2017 with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The insurgency has led to a military response since a year ago by forces from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), liberating districts near gas projects, but leading to a new wave of attacks in other areas.

There are about 800,000 internally displaced persons due to the conflict, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and about 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project. (Lusa)