Dear All,

There is no further information on the riots that took place today morning in Chibuto –Gaza Province. The Mozambican Police (PRM) informed that the situation is now completely under control.

As stated in the14:00 hrs security update, there is no specific reason for the disturbances. Allegedly, the social unrest is due to the rise of the prices in general.

The disturbances started in the marketplace and rapidly spread to the rest of the town. Then the demonstrators barricaded the main road Xai-Xai - Chokwe and the population gathered in some areas of the town.

The local police could not handle the situation and has requested reinforcements to Xai-Xai provincial command. When the contingent arrived to Chibuto started to shoot inorder to disperse the mob.

At the moments there are no reports of killed or wounded people but some activists were detained.

I have been intouch with our UN staff member posted in Chibuto who stayed at home while the riots were taking place but he stated that the situation has calm down and one can now come out with no problems.

It is hard to access what is next. In the floods affected zones and in the north of the country, the situation is likely to remain peaceful. But in Maputo and Gaza provinces(Xai-Xai, the capital of the province, can be the next hotspot) the authorities and security experts I have been talking with cannot predict was is going to happen. Definitely, the security situation is still very unstableand volatile and incidents of this sort are likely to continue. UN Agencies/ Funds and Programmes should avoid organizing retreats, conferences and seminars in Maputo and, for the time being, travel (mainly by road) should be restricted to the essential.

Again, UN staff MUST stay alert, be vigilant, listen to the radio and TV news before leaving home and DO NOT come to work if you feel that your life is in danger. If so, stay home with your children and wait for instructions from your office.