The Government of Finland has financed the purchase of rice and soya oil sourced from Ukraine, valued at approximately one million euros, to support 330,000 people affected by the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique.

According to Lusa, the handover of the donated goods was formalised on Wednesday, 4 November, in Pemba, by Finland’s ambassador to Mozambique, Satu Lassila, to the provincial government and the World Food Programme (WFP).

The assistance falls under the ‘Food from Ukraine’ initiative — formerly known as ‘Grain from Ukraine’ — which enables the procurement of Ukrainian food products for humanitarian relief operations.

At the ceremony, Satu Lassila expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado and called for the continuation of international support for families affected by the conflict and by food insecurity.

“Mozambique must remain on the international agenda. The many crises demanding the world’s attention must not leave the needs of the people of this country in the shadows,” she said, adding that the food supplies would help improve living conditions and support families in rebuilding their lives.

In June, the Mozambican government announced its intention to deepen bilateral and cooperation ties with Finland, particularly in the security sector. At that time, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Maria Lucas held talks with her Finnish counterpart, Elina Valtonen.

“The governments of Finland and Mozambique maintain excellent bilateral relations dating back a long period. Last year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic interactions and now we are also focusing on economic cooperation,” Valtonen said.

The Finnish minister reiterated that support for Mozambique’s security sector is equally important to Finland, noting that her country has participated in the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique since 2021.

The gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado has been gripped by a humanitarian crisis driven by an armed insurgency that has afflicted the region since October 2017. According to international organisations, the conflict has claimed 6,600 lives and displaced 1.3 million people.