As a result of the passage of Cyclone Freddy, which devastated Zambezia province, more than 5,000 children will be exposed to the risk of violence, trafficking and other evils, an official source said.

According to the coordinator of the Provincial Child Protection Reference Group, Cristina Chihale, a considerable number of children at risk are still in the resettlement areas and others have already returned to their neighborhoods of origin after the temporary shelters were closed.

"There is still the issue of danger for children and women, vulnerable groups. We have designed activities that we will be able to implement with the support of UNICEF, activities that will start this month, talks, raising awareness of the dangers that come from these agglomerations because children are often far from their parents," said Chihale, quoted by RM.

The source also said that in "the difficult situation they find themselves in, they go out to look for a living and end up being abandoned, and at that moment the criminals are also on the lookout".

It should be noted that in recent weeks, there has been an increase in kidnappings of women and the disappearance of several children in Maputo province and city, with no clear explanation for this "new" phenomenon.

According to a report aired yesterday by STV, 16 children have disappeared from their homes in unclear situations in the last two weeks alone.

"SERNIC has been following these events with a great deal of attention and concern, so much so that the National Criminal Investigation Service does not confirm the occurrence of these events in Maputo city or province or in other regions of the country, since we have no record or report of any case by a family member," said Hilario Lole, SERNIC spokesman.