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United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet asked for the protection of civilians on Friday in Cabo Delgado in Mozambique after reports of an “increasingly alarming human rights situation”. Insurgents captured the Muidumbe district in Cabo Delgado last week, causing thousands to flee.
Bachelet described the human rights situation as “desperate” for many. International humanitarian law and human rights violations committed include killings and mutilations, looting, destruction of homes and public and religious structures, abductions and abuse of girls and women, as well as the possible forced recruitment of children.
In addition, the United Nations has requested funds to help house some of the more than 350,000 displaced people in the region. People have fled the region since 2017, when the attacks began to escalate. Insurgents have killed dozens of people in the past two weeks. Bachelet says there have been reports of beheading in the region. The Washington Post reported that the insurgents may have beheaded up to 50 people in the past few weeks.
UN spokesman Babar Baloch noted that many are unable to escape the brutal attacks, as many districts are inaccessible or under the control of armed groups.
In addition to the human rights violations committed by a growing insurgency, Bachelet said Mozambican security forces have also perpetrated human rights violations in recent years. These violations include extrajudicial executions, ill-treatment, use of violations of force, arbitrary detentions, including those of journalists, and unlawful restrictions on freedom of movement. She said:
People living in these areas whose rights have been violated are entitled to protection and remedy. All alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed by armed groups and security forces must be investigated fully, independently and transparently by the competent authorities. Those in charge must be held accountable.
Underlying much of this conflict is growing food insecurity, overcrowding and a lack of sanitation tools, which is of particular importance in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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