This is a Channel Africa podcast. You can also get Channel Africa on satellite PAS 10, DSTV Audio bouquet 802, and Open View Bouquet Channel 628. The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF says that over 3 million Mozambican children are in serious need of humanitarian assistance.

This is a Channel Africa podcast. You can also get Channel Africa on satellite PAS 10, DSTV Audio bouquet 802, and Open View Bouquet Channel 628. The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF says that over 3 million Mozambican children are in serious need of humanitarian assistance.

The country has recently been hit by deadly post-election protests with demonstrators denouncing a recent election victory by the country's ruling Frelima party. The recent political climate has exacerbated the already severe displacement of hundreds of thousands of the country's children.

The country has recently been hit by deadly post-election protests with demonstrators denouncing a recent election victory by the country's ruling Frelima party. The recent political climate has exacerbated the already severe displacement of hundreds of thousands of the country's children.

Apart from conflict, Mozambique is also among the countries most adversely affected by climate related risks, with UNICEF warning that the impact of these could include disease and malnutrition. Well, for more on this we're now joined on the line from Cabo Delgado in Mozambique by UNICEF's Chief of emergencies and field operations Jane Strachan. Jane, thanks very much indeed for joining us and welcome to the program.

Apart from conflict, Mozambique is also among the countries most adversely affected by climate related risks, with UNICEF warning that the impact of these could include disease and malnutrition. Well, for more on this we're now joined on the line from Cabo Delgado in Mozambique by UNICEF's Chief of emergencies and field operations Jane Strachan. Jane, thanks very much indeed for joining us and welcome to the program.

Thanks very much and happy New Year to you and your listeners.

Thanks very much and happy New Year to you and your listeners.

Yes, happy new year to you and uh let's hope that it is a better year because uh Mozambique really has come under a lot of pressure coming at different angles.

Yes, happy new year to you and uh let's hope that it is a better year because uh Mozambique really has come under a lot of pressure coming at different angles.

Yes, that's right. And in addition to the displacement we've been facing in the north for several years due to armed conflict, Mozambique, as you mentioned, frequently suffers from different climate shocks, including drought, which we are still suffering from in 20, you know, that that started in 2024, and then of course most recently with Cyclone Chido in early December.

Yes, that's right. And in addition to the displacement we've been facing in the north for several years due to armed conflict, Mozambique, as you mentioned, frequently suffers from different climate shocks, including drought, which we are still suffering from in 20, you know, that that started in 2024, and then of course most recently with Cyclone Chido in early December.

So your your report says over 3 million children in Mozambique need urgent humanitarian assistance. Can you give us a sense of the scale of the crisis and, and what's driving this urgent need?

So your your report says over 3 million children in Mozambique need urgent humanitarian assistance. Can you give us a sense of the scale of the crisis and, and what's driving this urgent need?

Sure, Mozambique is suffering from a number of different crises. So as I just mentioned, in the north we've, we've been working with dealing with armed conflict for the past 7 years. There are about 577,000 people internally displaced. Over half of them are children, so 290,000 children.

Sure, Mozambique is suffering from a number of different crises. So as I just mentioned, in the north we've, we've been working with dealing with armed conflict for the past 7 years. There are about 577,000 people internally displaced. Over half of them are children, so 290,000 children.

In addition to that displacement and Cyclone Chido, which I just mentioned, we're also dealing with a large measles outbreak and cholera, a cholera outbreak, and both of those have really severe impacts for children if we're not able to respond very quickly through immunization, treatment of water, and provision of good health care.

In addition to that displacement and Cyclone Chido, which I just mentioned, we're also dealing with a large measles outbreak and cholera, a cholera outbreak, and both of those have really severe impacts for children if we're not able to respond very quickly through immunization, treatment of water, and provision of good health care.

And what are some of the challenges you're facing in responding uh to this need?

And what are some of the challenges you're facing in responding uh to this need?

So with the response to Cyclone Chido, UNICEF had prepositioned a lot of supplies. We have several warehouses in the country where we keep our our emergency stocks and then the things that we use for our regular programs.

So with the response to Cyclone Chido, UNICEF had prepositioned a lot of supplies. We have several warehouses in the country where we keep our our emergency stocks and then the things that we use for our regular programs.

So with Chito we've, we've used a lot of those supplies. For us, Chito occurred earlier in the season and it was a much stronger storm than we would have expected. So with 3 more months of the cyclone season to come, we're worried that we won't be able to replenish the supplies we have and we're, we're worried that it may be difficult to both bring goods into the country and move them around the country as quickly as we need.

So with Chito we've, we've used a lot of those supplies. For us, Chito occurred earlier in the season and it was a much stronger storm than we would have expected. So with 3 more months of the cyclone season to come, we're worried that we won't be able to replenish the supplies we have and we're, we're worried that it may be difficult to both bring goods into the country and move them around the country as quickly as we need.

So we're, we're looking to see how we can best replenish our supplies and how we can make sure that we're able to help as many children in need as we can regardless of where they are in the country and what humanitarian issue they're facing.

So we're, we're looking to see how we can best replenish our supplies and how we can make sure that we're able to help as many children in need as we can regardless of where they are in the country and what humanitarian issue they're facing.

I guess with children, I mean, I think schools are meant to be opening next week, right? Um, that must be something that you're concerned about and has probably been affected quite a a a big deal.

I guess with children, I mean, I think schools are meant to be opening next week, right? Um, that must be something that you're concerned about and has probably been affected quite a a a big deal.

Yeah, so schools actually should start at the end of January, so we have a little bit more time to get ready for the new school season. Um, Cyclone Cheeto affected over 1100 classrooms. So we're one of our priorities now is to see how we can get the schools back up and functional.

Yeah, so schools actually should start at the end of January, so we have a little bit more time to get ready for the new school season. Um, Cyclone Cheeto affected over 1100 classrooms. So we're one of our priorities now is to see how we can get the schools back up and functional.

With roofs, with walls, or erecting tents or erecting other temporary learning facilities, the longer children are out of school, the less likely they are to return to school. So it's extremely important for us to help the government restart the school year on a positive note later this month.

With roofs, with walls, or erecting tents or erecting other temporary learning facilities, the longer children are out of school, the less likely they are to return to school. So it's extremely important for us to help the government restart the school year on a positive note later this month.

Yesterday we were dealing with a report of um a good number of Mozambicans fleeing, particularly towards the north Cabo Delgado to go into um into Malawi, and I think post-election violence was cited. Has that played a major role in in in the challenges that you're facing and the need for children in particular?

Yesterday we were dealing with a report of um a good number of Mozambicans fleeing, particularly towards the north Cabo Delgado to go into um into Malawi, and I think post-election violence was cited. Has that played a major role in in in the challenges that you're facing and the need for children in particular?

UNICEF is extremely concerned about the situation in the country, and we're really saddened by the impact of protests on children. We are working with our colleagues in Malawi and the other neighboring countries to see how we can best support families and children who are on the move or who are facing different, different challenges. Ensuring children's safety and protection is everyone's.

UNICEF is extremely concerned about the situation in the country, and we're really saddened by the impact of protests on children. We are working with our colleagues in Malawi and the other neighboring countries to see how we can best support families and children who are on the move or who are facing different, different challenges. Ensuring children's safety and protection is everyone's.

Responsibility and our priority is really to make sure that we can keep our programs going so that children have access to the services they need to live healthy and productive lives. So some of the challenges of moving supplies around the country are made more difficult right now, but nonetheless, UNICEF and our partners are here and will stay here and we'll we'll keep delivering services for children.

Responsibility and our priority is really to make sure that we can keep our programs going so that children have access to the services they need to live healthy and productive lives. So some of the challenges of moving supplies around the country are made more difficult right now, but nonetheless, UNICEF and our partners are here and will stay here and we'll we'll keep delivering services for children.

Um, children are also quite prone to things like waterborne diseases. Is that something on your radar as well as we uh look at the aftermath of, um, climatic shocks such as Chido?

Um, children are also quite prone to things like waterborne diseases. Is that something on your radar as well as we uh look at the aftermath of, um, climatic shocks such as Chido?

Yes, as I mentioned, we do have a cholera outbreak in the country right now. Cholera is a waterborne disease, and it can spread really quickly. So we are working to with the government and with our partners to help stop the spread of cholera, to treat those who have cholera, and to look at how we can improve hygiene practices among communities in the longer term to also help reduce cholera or other waterborne disease transmission.

Yes, as I mentioned, we do have a cholera outbreak in the country right now. Cholera is a waterborne disease, and it can spread really quickly. So we are working to with the government and with our partners to help stop the spread of cholera, to treat those who have cholera, and to look at how we can improve hygiene practices among communities in the longer term to also help reduce cholera or other waterborne disease transmission.

Cholera can also very quickly impact children, so we also have a combined program where we ensure that we're also looking at malnutrition, particularly for children under 5, and making sure that we have the resources we need to be able to treat the issues whether it's cholera or malnutrition or some of the other, the other issues people are facing.

Cholera can also very quickly impact children, so we also have a combined program where we ensure that we're also looking at malnutrition, particularly for children under 5, and making sure that we have the resources we need to be able to treat the issues whether it's cholera or malnutrition or some of the other, the other issues people are facing.

So is food insecurity a big concern?

So is food insecurity a big concern?

Yeah, so as a result of the drought we faced in early 2024 as a result of El Nino in the region, uh, Mozambique had an additional 1 million people, so over 3 million people are food insecure. And of those, uh, we have, uh, about, um,

Yeah, so as a result of the drought we faced in early 2024 as a result of El Nino in the region, uh, Mozambique had an additional 1 million people, so over 3 million people are food insecure. And of those, uh, we have, uh, about, um,

Sorry, 3.3 million people who are food insecure, and, and of those we, we think that um

Sorry, 3.3 million people who are food insecure, and, and of those we, we think that um

Somewhere between 500,000 and a million children will need treatment for malnutrition related to food insecurity, and of those, a smaller percentage will need inpatient treatment for severe acute malnutrition. So certainly it's something that UNICEF and other actors are tracking, looking at how we can provide prevention, help with the young child feeding practices to promote good nutrition practices, and then also ensure that we can identify.

Somewhere between 500,000 and a million children will need treatment for malnutrition related to food insecurity, and of those, a smaller percentage will need inpatient treatment for severe acute malnutrition. So certainly it's something that UNICEF and other actors are tracking, looking at how we can provide prevention, help with the young child feeding practices to promote good nutrition practices, and then also ensure that we can identify.

and quickly treat malnutrition where we do find it. And what's interesting about Mozambique is the cyclone and the conflict have affected the northern part and the drought has really impacted the central part of the country. So we're really having to respond to different crises throughout the entire country of Mozambique, which is quite difficult with limited resources and and with, with so many different geographic locations where we need to be responding.

and quickly treat malnutrition where we do find it. And what's interesting about Mozambique is the cyclone and the conflict have affected the northern part and the drought has really impacted the central part of the country. So we're really having to respond to different crises throughout the entire country of Mozambique, which is quite difficult with limited resources and and with, with so many different geographic locations where we need to be responding.

Given these challenges, I can only imagine that partnerships with local organizations and government and even maybe even other international agencies must be critical to to try and deal with this crisis in Mozambique.

Given these challenges, I can only imagine that partnerships with local organizations and government and even maybe even other international agencies must be critical to to try and deal with this crisis in Mozambique.

Absolutely. So the government of Mozambique is one of our largest partners because of course one of the main goals of UNICEF is to improve local capacity to to be able to support their populations. But we do have a large network of both international and local NGOs and civil society organizations.

Absolutely. So the government of Mozambique is one of our largest partners because of course one of the main goals of UNICEF is to improve local capacity to to be able to support their populations. But we do have a large network of both international and local NGOs and civil society organizations.

That help us implement our programs and these are both our emergency programs but also our longer term programs aimed at um at addressing some of the Millennium Development Goals that we're working on here in Mozambique. So we're looking at both some acute emergency programs, but we have a vision of a longer term, a longer term goal for Mozambique, and we're using all of our available resources, um, both UNICEF's and those of our partners to see what uh positive changes we can make in the country.

That help us implement our programs and these are both our emergency programs but also our longer term programs aimed at um at addressing some of the Millennium Development Goals that we're working on here in Mozambique. So we're looking at both some acute emergency programs, but we have a vision of a longer term, a longer term goal for Mozambique, and we're using all of our available resources, um, both UNICEF's and those of our partners to see what uh positive changes we can make in the country.

So as someone deeply involved in emergencies and field operations, what's been your most powerful and memorable experience in Mozambique and how's this shaped your approach to uh your humanitarian work in the country?

So as someone deeply involved in emergencies and field operations, what's been your most powerful and memorable experience in Mozambique and how's this shaped your approach to uh your humanitarian work in the country?

Yeah, I've been doing emergency work for over 25 years, and Mozambique is a beautiful country with really amazing people, and it's been a real privilege to work here. I think when, you know, for me an advantage of emergency programs is you see change in people very quickly, you know, you see the benefit of an immunization or you see the benefit of treatment of severe acute malnutrition.

Yeah, I've been doing emergency work for over 25 years, and Mozambique is a beautiful country with really amazing people, and it's been a real privilege to work here. I think when, you know, for me an advantage of emergency programs is you see change in people very quickly, you know, you see the benefit of an immunization or you see the benefit of treatment of severe acute malnutrition.

Um, and, and seeing children back in school, seeing children playing together, you know, when their lives have been disrupted either by violence or storm and, and UNICEF's work around child protection, bringing kids together, giving them a sense of normalcy, giving them an opportunity to express themselves through sport or art or discussion, it's really incredible to see how quickly you can change a child's life, and I'm very privileged to be working for UNICEF and being able to do that on a daily basis.

Um, and, and seeing children back in school, seeing children playing together, you know, when their lives have been disrupted either by violence or storm and, and UNICEF's work around child protection, bringing kids together, giving them a sense of normalcy, giving them an opportunity to express themselves through sport or art or discussion, it's really incredible to see how quickly you can change a child's life, and I'm very privileged to be working for UNICEF and being able to do that on a daily basis.

Um, Jane, we're gonna have to leave it there. Thank you so much indeed for joining us and uh thank you for the work that you and your team are doing out there in Mozambique.

Um, Jane, we're gonna have to leave it there. Thank you so much indeed for joining us and uh thank you for the work that you and your team are doing out there in Mozambique.

Thanks so much. Have a great day. Thank you. That's uh UNICEF's Chief of Emergencies and field operations in Mozambique, uh Jane Strachan, uh, who, of course, UNICEF has got a focus on children and they are the victims of a number of crises that are all coming together, whether it's politics, um, climate, um, it really is uh.

Thanks so much. Have a great day. Thank you. That's uh UNICEF's Chief of Emergencies and field operations in Mozambique, uh Jane Strachan, uh, who, of course, UNICEF has got a focus on children and they are the victims of a number of crises that are all coming together, whether it's politics, um, climate, um, it really is uh.

coming together of different issues culminating in this crisis that we're seeing in the country at this time. 3 million Mozambican children in serious need of humanitarian assistance. That podcast was courtesy of Channel Africa. The African Perspective.

coming together of different issues culminating in this crisis that we're seeing in the country at this time. 3 million Mozambican children in serious need of humanitarian assistance. That podcast was courtesy of Channel Africa. The African Perspective.