CONFIDENTIAL
Mozambique
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34. According to UNHCR's latest figures, there are currently around 600,000 registered Mozambican refugees in neighbouring countries. The largest population is in Malawi with 401,000. UNHCR expect to be assisting half a million Mozambicans in Malawi by mid-1988 of the largest refugee populations in Africa. Other Mozambican refugees have found their way to Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Zambia.
35. During 1987 the ODA contributed £1.63 million to UNHCR's Special Appeals for Mozambican refugees and returnees. In addition Britain committed £20 million in bilateral aid to Mozambique in 1987 and pledged almost £15 million in bilateral emergency aid. Our share of EC emergency aid to Mozambique is £4.5 million. Britain has also allocated £35 million to the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference.
36. The UNHCR Representative Malawi has told the British High Commissioner in Lilongwe about the deteriorating security situation in refugee camps in Malawi. The problem is caused by Renamo carrying out raids to acquire food. However Malawi lacks the human and material resources to control the camps and the country's borders. As a result some refugees are seeking repatriation to Mozambique through UNHCR offices.
37. The security situation in Mozambique remains worrying. Rena mo guerillas appear to have increased the frequency and scale of their destructive hit and run raids. Many have occurred in the southern provinces, ambushes of convoys are frequent on the main north-south highway, north of Maputo, and on the road linking Maputo with Swaziland. There are also frequent reports of less spectacular Renamo activities in most other part of the country.
United Nations Department
March 1988
N39ABP
CONFIDENTIAL