Mozambique violence displaced 'highly traumatised'

Thousands of people displaced by the rebel attack in northern Mozambique have sought safety in the town of Pemba, with some among them hoping to be reunited with their relatives.

Hundreds of families were separated when trying to escape from the insurgents that attacked the port city of Palma in Cabo Delgado province at the end of March.

"I don't know where my family is", said 31-year-old Alue, who was working on the day of the assault and forced to flee.

He has been looking for his mother, his wife and his brothers since his arrival at a shelter in Pemba.

The head of the UN Refugee Agency in the region said those arriving at the shelter had been left "exhausted" by their experiences.

"They are highly traumatised by what they have seen, by what they have experienced, seeing their families, their friends being killed, seeing their houses being completely destroyed", said Margarida Loureiro.

More than 2,600 people have been killed and 670,000 displaced since the rebel insurgency started in 2017, creating a massive humanitarian crisis, according to UN agencies.

The recent escalation began when more than 100 of the well-armed rebels attacked Palma on March 24 and held more than half of the strategic centre for more than 10 days.

At least 50 people were killed, including several who were beheaded, in the assault.

Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi announced Wednesday that government forces had regained control of Palma after a prolonged battle.