Peace Corps evacuates its volunteers in Mozambique due to coronavirus

By Jorge dos Santos*

The U.S. Embassy in Mozambique announced on wednesday that its peace corps agency was suspending operations in the country and recalling volunteers for their safety due to new coronavirus.

While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mozambique, as the disease continues to spread and international travel becomes more and more challenging, the U.S. Peace Corps is acting now to protect the health of Volunteers and avoid possible situations in which Volunteers could have difficulty in travelling from their host countries. 

This action represents the effective temporary suspension of Peace Corps Volunteer activities globally, including in Mozambique.  However, american Peace Corps administrative staff will remain in Mozambique and will be ready to return to normal operations when conditions permit.

“We look forward to the return of our Peace Corps Volunteers to Mozambique” said U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique, Dennis W. Hearne, adding that  “the resumption of their presence and activities throughout the nation once this global crisis has passed.”

The agency works in Mozambique in health and education sectors, under the invitation of the local Government, through agreements with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Human Development.  Since 1998, over 1,300 Volunteers have served throughout Mozambique.

*jorgedossantosmz@gmail.com