IOM said this alarming figure represents the second-largest wave of displacement in Cabo Delgado since the start of the conflict in 2017, highlighting the deepening humanitarian crisis in the area. The violence has seen a "horrifying increase", with affected communities bearing the brunt of these relentless attacks, the UN agency noted.

"We left our village in Ocua, Chiure, in the dead of night, scared because of those attacks happening nearby. We didn't bring anything with us, just the clothes on our backs. It's not just me, there's nine of us from my family, including the little ones. We're all in this together, trying to stay safe and keep each other going," Carlota, a displaced woman, was quoted as saying by IOM in the statement.

The response to numerous needs

IOM said it has responded to this humanitarian emergency by providing essential aid to over 22,000 recently displaced individuals. The organization's approach includes managing displacement sites, delivering shelter, healthcare, mental health support, and coordinating a multifaceted response to meet the escalating needs.

Despite these efforts, however, the magnitude of the crisis continues to outstrip available resources -- a gap that urgently needs to be addressed, the agency noted.

"In the face of this harrowing crisis, the International Organization for Migration stands resolute in our commitment to providing support to those affected," said Dr. Laura Tomm-Bonde, IOM Mozambique Chief of Mission.

"The challenges we face in meeting the needs of the displaced are significant. Our resources, including essential items, are dwindling rapidly, threatening to leave thousands already in a vulnerable situation at risk, including women, children, and the elderly."

IOM went on to explain that the escalating crisis has placed a considerable strain on its Mobile Teams and Clinics, which it said are instrumental in providing health, nutrition, and psychosocial support across affected districts.

The rising demand for mental health services and increased protection efforts against gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse further compounds the urgency for enhanced support capabilities, the UN agency said in the statement.

Also read: Climate: 30 million newly displaced by disasters in 2021 -- IOM

Only 15 percent of the required $43 million secured

Despite substantial on-the-ground efforts to accommodate new arrivals and ensure coordinated response efforts, a significant funding shortfall jeopardizes the continuation of essential services, IOM explained. It said that, given that only 15 percent of the required $43 million under the Humanitarian Response Plan 2024 has been secured, the looming risk of unmet needs could exacerbate an already critical situation.

As part of the Joint Response Programme in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), emergency household items including shelter tarps, blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, and sleeping mats have been distributed to 1,255 households, according to the statement.

Additionally, food and hygiene kits have been provided, though the demand far exceeds the available resources. "The immediate and future needs of the displaced populations in Mozambique demand our collective attention and action," Dr.Tomm-Bonde was quoted as saying in the statement.

"Beyond immediate relief, we are committed to addressing the root causes of the crisis and promoting sustainable peace and development by combining humanitarian aid interventions with development, and peacebuilding initiatives."

Stressing Mozambique's daunting humanitarian emergency, IOM called for swift and comprehensive action from the international community to alleviate the suffering of the displaced and to work towards sustainable solutions to the violence that has plagued the region since 2017. (Picture shows.

Also read: New study details record levels of population displacement in Africa