Catholic Peace Entity Says Resettlement of IDPs in Mozambique Impoverishes Host Community

“The host community is now worse off than the IDP community. They no longer have access to the lands they cultivated, and are not receiving food donations from NGOs. This has resulted in conflict, with host community members attempting to block access to the IDPs to their fields,” DHPI says in a report shared with ACI Africa.

The peace foundation notes in the February 24 report that the site for the camp at Corrane was unilaterally decided upon by Mozambican authorities. 

“At the time it was said that it was decided upon because there was sufficient land available, which would enable IDPs to feed themselves through subsistence farming,” DHPI says.

The current displacement and arising conflicts between IDPs and the host community, however, contradicts the assertion that the site was chosen for the IDP camp because there was sufficient land available. “Clearly, there is not,” the peace foundation that has been researching the six-year violence in Cabo Delgado says.  

The peace entity of SACBC recounts the establishment of the Corrane resettlement camp, noting that the settlement “arose overnight”.

“NGOs were roped in to build houses for the IDPs. Gravel roads were graded in a neat gridiron pattern. Solar-powered streetlights were installed. Plots were demarcated and shelters were built on them. Boreholes were installed,” DHPI narrates, adding that there is even a small market and a football field in Corrane.

Today, however, IDPs as well as the host community around Corrane settlement camp are sure that the location was not suitable for the camp.

Locals told DHPI that only 300 families have been given plots of land for cultivation in Corrane. 

They furthermore estimate that the land given to each family provides no more than 30 percent of their nutritional needs due to the size, the poor quality of the soil, and extreme weather, ranging from debilitating droughts to flooding by cyclones. 

They say Corrane lies in the cyclone path, which is why it is severely affected by each cyclone.

Corrane is situated 50 km Southeast of Nampula city, DHPI observes and says, “The track that leads there is almost impassable at the best of times. After the rain, it is impassable.”

The charity foundation finds it regrettable that the choice of Corrane as an IDP settlement has theft the victims of violence stranded in a place where they have no access to economic opportunities. 

The IDPs, DHPI notes, are left fully dependent on the humanitarian support they receive from NGOs. 

“It is not possible to rebuild a life in a place where all means to do so are lacking,” DHPI says, adding that the location of the site also makes it very difficult for media representatives to get to the IDPs and to tell their story. 

According to the peace entity of SACBC, there is a police post at the entrance to the camp, and “unauthorized” visits are not allowed. “What happens there, happens outside of any public scrutiny, thereby consolidating control by the authorities,” DHPI says. 

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Additionally, there has been an increasing deterioration in the quality of housing in the camp, the peace entity says, and explains, “Initially, NGOs (as well as Caritas Nampula) collaborated to build houses according to specifications laid down by the government.”

Further, DHPI was informed of IDPs regularly selling the nonfood items they receive from NGOs, to buy food. 

When asked about death rates, local sources point out the old cemetery, which had 22 graves before the arrival of IDPs and is now full.

A second cemetery that was subsequently laid out is also full, DHPI says, and adds, “However, there are no statistics on infant mortality rates or adult deaths due to preventable causes.”