UNHCR opened Field Office Pemba following its commitment to assist those affected by the widespread violence in Cabo Delgado, which drove displacement to other provinces and to the United Republic of Tanzania. The massive displacement of families triggered by armed conflict resulted in serious protection risks and needs for protection and assistance.
Despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic, UNHCR swiftly set up its operation, engaged with Government and partners, and led Pemba’s Protection Cluster. The situation in Cabo Delgado is primarily a protection crisis, however, there are multiple conflicting needs, because of growing displacement combined with the development of a protracted crisis.
UNHCR’s protection proactive response, leading coordination role and operational partnerships, resulted in the improvement of the protection environment, the reduction of gender-based violence risks, and the provision of core relief items as part of its protection strategy.
The holistic protection approach in the Cabo Delgado emergency response stemmed from the needs identified through direct engagement with the communities, using monitoring tools and coordination mechanisms that involved humanitarian actors and the government. Key findings and evidence-based data allowed consistency in the response, making it particularly dynamic.
Data obtained during regular protection monitoring exercises and focus group discussions (FGDs) with IDPs across the province indicated that the lack of civil documentation led to increasing vulnerability of individuals. Moreover, the limited mechanisms and services to effectively address gender-based violence issues was considered one of the main gaps in the response. The widespread violence in Cabo Delgado also scaled up the number of individuals in dire need of mental health and psychosocial (MHPSS) support.
The leadership of the sub-national Protection Cluster, starting in January 2020, resulted in the effective prevention of unprincipled, non-voluntary movement of displaced individuals to new sites. The setting up of regular meetings with clear terms of reference and a strategy for the response as well as the strong approach at Humanitarian Country Team and Inter Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) levels resulted in the increased centrality of protection in the humanitarian response.
Community-based approach and mechanisms were developed and implemented to improve the protection environment of forcibly displaced persons. UNHCR established a network of trained volunteers to mitigate, identify and report specific protection issues in the displaced communities. Furthermore, UNHCR’s Field Office Pemba focused on the provision of assistance in areas with specific gaps, namely legal services and support to access documentation and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).
Gender-based violence is a key protection concern in the Cabo Delgado IDP emergency. Despite the overwhelming gender-based violence needs identified, there is an alarming lack of gender-based violence service provision for both the IDP and host population. The strengthening of the provision of services, the establishment of referral mechanisms and the implementation of specific projects to address key issues are a pressing need.
Similarly, the data collected by the Protection Monitoring tool clearly identified that access to core relief items and adequate shelter is still a pressing need that might trigger increased situations of vulnerability. UNHCR’s multi-sectoral protection approach and response in Cabo Delgado translated a targeted provision of material assistance to the most in need.