Soldiers in Mozambique. Militants raided the town of Palma on Wednesday, forcing almost 200 people to flee. Photo:AFP
The World Daily | News Desk MARCH 29th 2021
Rebels who attacked the city of Palma in northern Mozambique last week killed dozens of people, said Omar Saranga, spokesman for the country's security forces. Hundreds of people were evacuated by the army, he added, and others are still being sought. Citizens of other countries are also among the victims of the several-day attack.
"On March 24, a group of terrorists infiltrated Palma taking actions that culminated in the murder of dozens of defenceless people ..." reported Omar Saranga. He added that in recent days the security forces have focused on evacuating civilians from the area and are now moving to "eliminating" militias.
The Reuters Agency noted that it is not yet clear how many people lost their lives or were injured in the four-day rebel attack. The military engaged helicopters in the search for survivors who could escape from the city. Lionel Dyck, whose private security company is involved in the search, said his helicopters have found around 120 people so far.
Saranga added that seven people had died while trying to escape from one of the hotels. Hundreds of people have already fled Palma, most of them on boats, according to diplomats and humanitarian workers, Reuters wrote. The agency said that some of them found refuge in the port city of Pemba.
As emphasized by the agency, it is difficult to obtain reliable information from the scene of the fights. Witnesses quoted by the Reuters agency spoke about the bodies lying on the streets of Palma, some of which were decapitated, and that foreigners were among the victims.
