Food Assistance Gives Returnee Families in Memba a Fresh Start

Food Assistance Gives Returnee Families in Memba a Fresh Start

Hundreds of returnee families in Memba district are receiving food assistance to help them rebuild their lives after conflict.

Last week, World Vision Mozambique began distributing electronic vouchers in Tulua community, Memba district, Nampula province, through the financial support of the Mozambique Humanitarian Fund.

The assistance comes after attacks in November and December last year forced thousands of people to flee their homes. Many families have now returned. They are trying to rebuild their lives with few possessions and little food.

For many, the support has come at the right time.

Zaida Amílcar is one of the returnees. She fled the violence with her children. After months away, she returned home to start again.

"We fled because of the attacks. We left with nothing except our children. Now we have returned, but life is still very difficult. These vouchers allow us to buy food and other basic items our family needs. This support gives us hope," she says.

Many returnee families face the same challenge. They lost their homes, crops and belongings. They are now working to rebuild their livelihoods.

Nitusha Renato, World Vision Mozambique's Food Assistance Project Officer, said the assistance targets families returning to communities affected by the conflict.

"These families were forced to flee after the attacks at the end of last year. Many have now returned home, but they still need support to recover. The electronic voucher system allows each family to choose the food and essential household items they need most. It gives them dignity and flexibility while they rebuild their lives," she says.

The project will support around 2,000 households, reaching about 10,000 people across Memba district. In Tulua community alone, 50 households received assistance during the latest distribution.

Instead of receiving standard food parcels, families receive electronic vouchers during in-person distributions. They can use them to buy the items they need most from local traders. The vouchers cover maize flour, rice, beans, cooking oil, sugar, capulanas, underwear and other household essentials.

The support also helps local markets. Families buy directly from selected traders, allowing them to choose products that match their needs while boosting the local economy.

World Vision Mozambique knows many more families still need help. However, each household reached is one more family with better access to food and other essential supplies.

The organisation also hopes future assistance will help families become self-reliant. Planned support includes seeds and other agricultural inputs so returnees can resume farming, restore their livelihoods and gradually reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance.

The response in Memba forms part of a broader USD 2 million emergency programme being implemented by World Vision Mozambique in partnership with the national NGO SEPPA. The programme supports 40,000 vulnerable people across Mozambique through multiple humanitarian interventions.

Alongside the response in Memba, the project is also assisting communities affected by flooding in Guijá and Mabalane districts, Gaza Province. It combines food assistance with water, sanitation and hygiene, and protection activities, with a focus on women, children and people with disabilities.