The coastal province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, is once again facing a surge of violence that has forced Doctors Without Borders (MSF) to suspend vital medical services in the district of Mocímboa da Praia.
Image: Supplied/Marilia Gurgel
The decision, announced on 26 September, follows armed attacks that left civilians killed, injured and displaced within just a few weeks.
Medical Services on Pause
Until the suspension, MSF teams were supporting the local hospital with emergency care, maternity services and referrals for patients requiring advanced treatment. Mobile clinics and community health workers extended support into surrounding villages, while psychosocial programmes provided a rare outlet for those coping with trauma.
All of these activities have now been halted, with only a handful of patients transferred to facilities in Pemba and Mueda for specialised care. For many others, already living in precarious conditions, the suspension represents yet another barrier to accessing healthcare.
Escalating Conflict
Mocímboa da Praia has been a flashpoint since 2017, when the first attacks in the region marked the beginning of an ongoing conflict. Families gradually returned after earlier waves of violence, but the most recent attacks — some of the most severe in years — have forced several thousand people to flee once again.
The violence is not contained to Mocímboa alone. Armed incursions have intensified across Cabo Delgado and spread into neighbouring provinces, worsening a humanitarian crisis that has left roughly 430,000 people internally displaced.
Image: Supplied/Mariana Abdalla
Strain on an Overburdened System
Cabo Delgado’s fragile health system, already weakened by years of unrest and natural disasters, is buckling under the pressure of fresh emergencies. Facilities often lack the capacity to cope with sudden influxes of displaced families, leaving communities without consistent access to treatment.
“Insecurity is continuously cutting people off from assistance. This results in preventable deaths and suffering,” says Víctor García Leonor, MSF’s head of operations in Mozambique. He stresses that civilians, health workers and medical facilities must be protected to ensure safe access to healthcare.
Continuing Efforts Elsewhere
Despite the suspension in Mocímboa da Praia, MSF continues to provide care in other districts of Cabo Delgado, including Mueda, Macomia and Palma. In the first half of 2025 alone, teams carried out nearly 100,000 outpatient consultations and ran mental health activities for more than 35,000 people. Services include emergency and maternity care, paediatric treatment, HIV and TB programmes, and outreach through mobile clinics.
Looking Ahead
While MSF remains committed to resuming activities in Mocímboa da Praia, operations can only restart once safety for staff and patients is assured. For the province’s estimated 150,000 to 200,000 residents, the pause is a stark reminder of how fragile healthcare access has become amid nearly eight years of conflict.
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