Overnight reports: Mozambique violence sparks massive refugee influx into Malawi
It happened while you were sleeping. Here’s what global agencies noted overnight from Friday to Saturday.
- Over 12,000 residents of Mozambique crossed into neighboring Malawi this past week, fleeing escalating violence caused by disputed presidential elections. Whole families are arriving, and we have provided them with temporary shelter in schools while waiting for appropriate solutions. This number is likely to increase, said Dominic Mwandira, an official in the Nsanje district in Malawi, which borders Mozambique. The ongoing unrest in Mozambique for over 60 days has already resulted in the death of about 260 people. The chaos in the country led to more than 6,000 prisoners escaping a maximum-security prison in Matola near Maputo on Wednesday. Police Chief Bernardino Rafael confirmed that among the escapees, there are 29 "highly dangerous" terrorists. This prompted many businesses, including banks, to close their offices.
- The number of homeless people in the United States has risen to an all-time high of over 770,000, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported on Friday. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, citing data collected nationwide in January 2024, reported that over 770,000 people are struggling with homelessness. In 2023, the number of homeless people was over 650,000.
- On Friday evening, a tragic shooting occurred at Palacio do Gelo in Viseu, in north-central Portugal. According to local police, a 44-year-old woman was killed as she was leaving the shopping mall. Two other people, a man and a woman, were injured and taken to the hospital. Police suspect this may have been a dispute between rival groups. The perpetrators are being sought.
- Nearly 40,787 tons of contaminated soil were removed from the Black Sea beaches. Almost 8,000 people were employed in this task. The tankers Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 sank in the Black Sea on December 15 during a storm. According to rescue services, the tankers were carrying approximately 10,141 tons of fuel oil. The accident resulted in an oil spill. Cleanup efforts are still ongoing.