MSF-Supported Health Centre Looted in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province

A local health centre supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was looted during an attack on the village of Quelimane in the Mocímboa da Praia district of Cabo Delgado province on Monday, 21 September, resulting in the theft of essential medicines and medical supplies.

The international medical humanitarian organisation condemned the incident, warning that targeting medical facilities severely affects vulnerable populations. MSF Country Coordinator in Mozambique, Pooja Iyer, stated that the looting of health facilities and the theft of equipment and medicines have devastating consequences for communities affected by conflict and displacement. Iyer noted that individuals living with chronic conditions, including HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension, and diabetes, face life-threatening interruptions to their treatments.

MSF emphasised that healthcare services, patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers must be respected and protected, stressing that medical care should remain accessible to populations in conflict-affected regions.

According to the organisation, MSF has operated in Cabo Delgado since 2019, offering medical and humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people, host communities, and those affected by extreme weather emergencies. After beginning medical operations in Mocímboa da Praia in 2022, MSF teams in the district conducted more than 57,000 outpatient consultations, treated 12,000 patients for respiratory infections, and managed follow-up care for 132 individuals diagnosed with HIV between January and June 2026.

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