UNICEF has increased the humanitarian appeal for Mozambique from $52 million to $96.5 million and victims of armed violence are among the priorities.

"More support from the international community will be needed to adequately respond to the needs of the affected population in the northern provinces and to continue supporting people affected by natural disasters that have occurred in central Mozambique," said Maria Luisa Fornara, representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), quoted in a statement from the entity.

According to UNICEF, of the total amount, $55.7 million will go to those displaced by armed violence in Cabo Delgado, 46% of whom are children.

"Many children have suffered deep trauma. If left untreated, they could become a factor in a long, protracted crisis that could quickly spread to other areas," UNICEF noted in the document.

For the UN agency, the humanitarian situation in Mozambique has "deteriorated significantly" since the beginning of the year in the face of continuing attacks in Cabo Delgado, outbreaks of communicable diseases, and the impact of Cyclone Eloise.

According to UNICEF, more than 300,000 school-age children are displaced and dependent on emergency schooling, and an estimated 33,000 are suffering from life-threatening malnutrition.

Armed groups have terrorized Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province since 2017, with some attacks claimed by the 'jihadist' group Islamic State, in a wave of violence that has led to more than 2,800 deaths, according to the conflict registration project ACLED, and 732,000 displaced people according to the UN.

Also according to the UN, more than 900,000 people are under severe food insecurity in Cabo Delgado and the host communities are also in urgent need of shelter, protection and other services.