Child Refugee Crisis

MAPUTO, (August 08, 2025) – More than 30,000 children, including some separated from their families, have fled a new wave of violence in Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique in the past two weeks, one of the highest numbers uprooted in such a short period, Save the Children said.

Escalating attacks that began on July 20 have displaced nearly 60,000 people in the province, half of whom are believed to be children, with numbers expected to continue to rise, according to the latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Chiúre District in Cabo Delgado was the hardest hit by violence from non-state armed groups, causing widespread fear and displacement. Armed groups targeted homes, police stations, schools, and health centers across several villages in the province, with reports of looting medical supplies.

Many displaced families are sheltering in schools or with host families. The risk of overcrowding, limited access to basic services, and rising protection concerns are increasing daily in these temporary shelters.

Displaced children, especially those who are separated from their parents or guardians, are at heightened risk of violence, exploitation, abuse, child marriage and recruitment into non-state armed groups.

Save the Children is in Cabo Delgado, providing mental health and psychosocial support, safe spaces for children to play and learn, family tracing and reunification for separated children, and malnutrition screenings for children and adolescent mothers.

Ilaria Manunza, Save the Children's Country Director in Mozambique, said: "We are witnessing a harrowing situation on the ground where the needs of children are far outpacing the available resources. The distress these children have endured is unimaginable.

"We are working around the clock to provide them with a safe space, food, and medical attention, but as more families arrive every day, urgent support from the international community is required. Separated children are particularly vulnerable, and our teams are doing all they can to identify them and reunify them with their families as quickly as possible.

"These latest attacks represent a major setback in efforts to rebuild the lives of children and families in Cabo Delgado who have had to live through conflict for the past eight years. This conflict must end immediately so these children can have their childhoods back."

Now in its eighth year with no immediate end in sight, the conflict in Cabo Delgado has taken a devastating toll on children growing up in the province. There are repeated reports of beheadings and abductions, including multiple child victims, in the province.

The ongoing conflicts have led to large-scale displacement, coupled with weakened infrastructure, making it difficult to access basic services like water, education, sanitation, and healthcare. Malnutrition is also a significant concern, with many children experiencing food insecurity.

Save the Children has been working in Mozambique since 1986, providing support to children through our development and humanitarian programs. The charity works with communities, local partners, and the government to design and deliver programs to meet the needs of the most deprived children. We also advocate for greater investment of public and private resources for children.