PEMBA, Mozambique— The surge in violence in northern Mozambique is making it increasingly difficult to safely deliver medical services in Cabo Delgado province. Following attacks this month in Mocímboa da Praia, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has temporarily suspended its activities in the town and district.
MSF called on all armed actors to ensure the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and medical facilities amid the escalating violence.
“We are deeply concerned about the escalating violence and its direct impact on every aspect of people’s lives, including access to healthcare,” said Víctor García Leonor, MSF head of operations for Mozambique. “Hundreds of thousands of people are in dire need of medical and humanitarian assistance in Cabo Delgado. But insecurity is continuously cutting them off from reaching it. This results in preventable deaths and suffering.”
Since early September, Mocímboa da Praia has experienced armed incursions in which gunmen killed and injured civilians, threatened residents and looted goods. The attacks reached neighborhoods just a few kilometers from the town center and forced several thousand people to flee. Violence has also intensified in other districts of Cabo Delgado, spilling into neighboring provinces.
As of Sept. 26, MSF suspended all medical activities in Mocímboa da Praia. Services provided in collaboration with the Ministry of Health included the emergency room and maternity ward at the District Rural Hospital, lifesaving care at the facility, and a referral system for patients with severe conditions. Mental health and psychosocial support, along with outreach activities run by community health workers in remote areas, were also halted. Some patients needing specialized care were referred to facilities in Pemba and Mueda.
“MSF remains committed to standing by the people of Cabo Delgado and to resume activities in Mocímboa da Praia as soon as we obtain guarantees that our staff will be able to work in a safe manner,” García Leonor said.
Throughout 2025, MSF has been forced to temporarily suspend medical activities across several locations in Cabo Delgado due to insecurity, sometimes for days or weeks at a time.
The district of Mocímboa da Praia has an estimated population of 150,000 to 200,000 people. The town was first attacked in October 2017 at the onset of the conflict and endured waves of violence and mass displacement before families gradually began returning. The September attacks were the most violent incidents in years.
After nearly eight years of conflict, about 430,000 people remain internally displaced. Many have fled repeatedly and live in fear and uncertainty. The health system, already strained by conflict and natural disasters, is further burdened by new emergencies such as sudden mass displacements.
“Time and again we call on all armed actors and stakeholders to protect civilians, medical facilities and humanitarian workers from violence,” García Leonor said. “Safe and unhindered access to healthcare is vital for communities caught in conflict and their freedom of movement should be guaranteed when they are seeking protection.”
In Cabo Delgado, MSF also works in Mueda, Macomia and Palma, providing outpatient consultations, emergency care, maternity and pediatric services, treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, and mental health support. In the first half of 2025, MSF carried out nearly 100,000 outpatient consultations and organized mental health group activities for more than 35,000 people.
