NSANJE, Malawi – The sound of screams jolted Alinafe Belo from her sleep. At first, she thought it was a nightmare, but as she stretched out of bed, the screams grew louder and more desperate. It was then that Alinafe realized something was terribly wrong.

As she stumbled out of bed and moved towards the door, the sight outside filled her with panic. Several houses in her village were burning, and people were running in all directions, trying to escape the chaos. Violent protests sparked by Mozambique's recent elections had escalated. Homes were either set ablaze or destroyed.

“I was alone and didn’t know what to do,” recalls Alinafe, who is nine months pregnant. “I grabbed a blanket and followed a group of people who were also fleeing.”

In Gumbi village, where Alinafe lived, the riots had turned deadly. As she and others were escaping the chaos, they saw countless people injured, and some with fresh cuts on their bodies.

 I prayed we’d make it out safely

Hoping to find refuge across the Shire River in Malawi’s Nsanje district, Alinafe and a group of ten made their way to the riverbank. The journey was gruelling. With the heavy rains and Alinafe’s pregnancy, every step was a challenge. After nearly four hours of walking, they reached the raging river that separated the two countries.

“Our only escape was across the river, but it was swollen from the rain,” she recalls. “We were told to wait for the waters to recede before crossing.”

But crossing wasn’t free. Fishermen were charging 2,000 Malawi Kwacha for a canoe ride. With no money, Alinafe watched others cross, silently praying for a miracle.

Just as she was about to give up, one fisherman, moved by her condition, offered to take her across for free. “It took us about 30 minutes to cross, and I was praying the whole time, hoping the fast-moving water wouldn’t tip the boat over.”

On December 24, Alinafe finally made it to Malawi, but the journey was far from over. She walked another hour to reach Tengani, an evacuation centre settlement for asylum seekers from Mozambique. While it provided some respite, she was exhausted and in pain.

"The settlement was a school, and all the rooms were occupied. I had to find a corner to rest," she says.

After two days, Alinafe and other refugees were relocated to Nyamithuthu settlement, which offered better facilities, including access to improved shelter and sanitation.

“I was given a tent, but I lacked many essentials,” Alinafe explains. “However, I was fortunate to receive a dignity kit from UNFPA. It contained a bucket, wrapping clothes, soap, and toiletries—things that were a lifeline.”

UNFPA’s recent distribution of dignity kits to 2,000 adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women at Chadzuka and Nyamithuthu settlements aimed to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls, who are particularly vulnerable in times of crisis.

The kits contain essential hygiene and personal care items, and the distribution sessions also provide a platform for open discussions on gender-based violence (GBV), sexual gender-based violence (SGBV), consent, and rights.

Stella Mangani, 30, also received a dignity kit and participated in the GBV information sessions. Stella fled with her four children after violence erupted in Posto Shire district. Her husband stayed behind to ensure their safety, but she was forced to cross into Malawi alone when he didn’t return.

“We waited, hoping my husband would come, but when he didn’t, I crossed into Malawi. I didn’t feel safe staying in Mozambique with my kids,” Stella recalls.

Like many other women at Nyamithuthu, Stella was forced to leave her belongings behind when the violence broke out, and the dignity kit she received became invaluable.

“We have water at the settlement, but had no place to store it. The soap and toiletries from UNFPA are a huge help,” says Stella, who is seven months pregnant. “The dignity kit has really made a difference in my ability to stay clean.”

By Joseph Scott, Communications Specialist