OCHA Situation Report
Angola
Period: 1-15 May 2003
13 June 2003


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Critical Issues

   Humanitarian partners reported an increase in malnutrition cases in
   Camacupa IDP camp in Bié Province.

   Part of the main route between Lubango and Menongue was immediately
   closed after local populations found an anti-tank landmine 30 cm from
   the roadside.

   Humanitarian partners reported that populations in the two transit
   centres in Luau, Moxico Province, do not have sufficient food
   assistance and urgently needed resettling.


Provincial Update

Benguela Province: Humanitarian partners remain concerned about the lack
of preconditions in areas of return throughout the province. More than 365
demobilised and their families were living in extremely poor conditions
and without shelter in Chila commune, Bocoio Municipality, an area
inaccessible to humanitarian partners due to mine infestation and road
conditions. Approximately 4,115 returnees in the Monte Belo commune are in
need of shelter, medicine and food.

Several locations in Ganda and Cubal Municipalities, restricted due to
mine infestation and broken bridges, were assessed for reopening access to
humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian partners and the Government are
demining more areas in preparation for return and resettlement, the
sub-group for the registration of IDPs, demobilised and their families has
been reactivated and food-for-work activities and HIV-awarness
interventions will increase.

Local authorities and humanitarian partners will create child protection
subgroups in each municipality and are working together to develop
activities to meet children's rights and needs based on the Convention on
the Rights of the Child.

In Chingongo commune 1,500 children, many of them returnees, are not
enrolled in the formal education system due to shortages of teachers and
school materials.

Bié Province: Humanitarian partners reported an increase in malnutrition
and pellagra in Camacupa IDP camp due to an influx of former IDPs from
Ringoma and Umpulo, areas that are inaccessible to humanitarian agencies.
Unable to sustain themselves in their areas of return, the IDPs have been
returning to the camp in a malnourished state.

IDP and former gathering area populations in resettlement areas outside of
Kuito Municipality lack sufficient assistance, including health services,
potable water and education facilities. Many demobilised soldiers do not
have registration for humanitarian assistance, hampering the new
verification and registration process in areas of destination.
Humanitarian partners report that some populations are returning from the
municipalities to Kuito seeking medical assistance.

The population in the Kunje Transit Centre has decreased to 500 people but
those who have been transported to municipal areas are having difficulties
reaching their villages in remote areas.

Huambo Province: Approximately 20,160 returnees and vulnerable residents
were registered for assistance in the previously inaccessible area of
Bimbe. Access remains difficult for heavy trucks transporting food and a
food-for-work road rehabilitation project is underway.

Huíla Province: On 30 April, the Kuvango - Cutato road, part of the main
route between Lubango and Menongue, was immediately closed after local
populations found an anti-tank landmine 30 cm from the roadside.

Because of overcrowding in the Lubango transit centre, some families are
without shelter. Humanitarian partners were concerned about health
conditions.

Many of the 502 ex-combatants and their families the Government
transported from Kuando Kubango, Kuanza Sul and Huambo Provinces to their
areas of origin have constructed housing with local materials. Although
none of the families have received resettlement kits, local authorities
have provided 30 days of food assistance.

Kuando Kubango Province: An estimated 15,000 - 20,000 people were awaiting
transport from the transit centre in Mavinga. Between 300 - 400 people a
day were being transported by air from Mavinga to Menongue. Due to lack of
fuel, only five of 15 trucks available were being used to move people to
Mavinga from Matungo GA, where an estimated 7,000 awaited transport.

Humanitarian partners report that conditions in the Mavinga transit centre
are good and people are living in well-organised, tented areas. All
inhabitants have plastic sheeting, latrines have been constructed and
90,000 litres of water a day was being supplied. An anti-personnel mine,
found approximately 10 metres from a well-used path near the centre, was
removed and destroyed by demining partners.

Food was distributed to more than 1,000 people seeking humanitarian
assistance who arrived from Quembo, Praia, Neriquinha and surrounding
areas where crops have failed due to insufficient rainfall.

Of the 5,979 people in the Menongue transit centre, 4,794 plan to remain
in Kuando Kubango Province, mainly in the Menongue bairros of Kuito
Kuanavale and Cuchi. The remaining demobilised soldiers and their families
will return to Bié, Huambo, and Kuanza Sul Provinces.

Only 50 people remained in the Campembe GA and the last 1,200 people in
the Soba Matias GA were transported to the return and resettlement area in
Dumbo, bringing the population there to approximately 5,000 people.

Kuanza Sul Province: Critical conditions were reported in the San José
transit centre, Cela Municipality, and 2,919 people were in urgent need of
registration and distribution of non-food items.

Approximately 37,000 persons have spontaneously returned to Mussende
Municipality from the Cambale GA and Kangandala in Malanje Province.
Humanitarian partners are concerned about the food situation in the
municipality. Sixty-one children have been admitted to a supplementary
feeding centre.

Humanitarian partners have reported improved nutrition levels in
Pambangala, 65 km outside of Kassongue and one of the most war-affected
areas in Kuanza Sul Province. Partners will stop general emergency food
distribution in August to focus on support for vulnerable groups such as
children under five and pregnant women. Primary health care and education
continued to be critical sectors: no essential drug kits have been
received since February 2003 and more than 60 per cent of children are
outside of the educational system.

Lunda Sul Province: The second phase of the nation-wide measles campaign
began in all municipalities on 4 May. In Saurimo municipality, the
Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) reported a total of 12,598
children immunised. Transportation constraints are slowing down the
collection of information for other municipalities and impeding
vaccination teams from reaching distant locations. Humanitarian partners
conducting a mobile health clinic in Muconda Municipality reported that
several cases of measles were detected in Tchicundo village.

The bridge over the Ngua River in Dala Municipality requires immediate
repair to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to more than 1,500
persons who live in Cazage commune and surrounding villages. Local
authorities repaired the bridge over the Tchiubue River in Muriegi
commune, Muconda Municipality, allowing humanitarian partners to resume
activities after a two-month stoppage.

Provincial authorities distributed rice and canned food in the Muangeuji
transit centre. Additional assistance, including a regular supply of
potable water, is still required.

Moxico Province: Humanitarian partners reported that populations in the
two transit centres in Luau urgently require food assistance and transport
to their areas of origin. Critical conditions were also reported in the
Luena centre due insufficient supply of food, fuel and water and
overcrowding caused by lack of transport. Seven hundred people from the
centre were recently resettled around Luena, reducing the centre's
population to 1,034 people. New arrivals from Bié and Huambo Provinces are
expected. Partners have encouraged timely onward transport of current
residents since the centre will be used for the organised return of
Angolan refugees from the DRC and Zambia beginning in June 2003.

A demining partner released a mine survey and assessment report for the
Cazombo transit centre area and Luau Municipality. Although no evidence of
mines was registered at Cazombo, minefields were identified in seven areas
in Luau. The report recommended urgent demining, mine awareness training
for returnees at the departure site or on arrival and demarcation of
remaining minefields.

In April, the demining partner cleared 1,500 square metres near a school
in Cangumbe town and 700 square metres at a prospective health centre
site. Based on information from local populations in Cangumbe and the
villages of Luanguilico and Sangondo, eight anti-personnel mines, two
anti-tank mines and 23 UXO were identified and removed. UXO were also
reported in areas in Luena, Luchazes Municipality and Moxico Municipality.
Approximately 2,500 persons received mine awareness training in Luena.

A reception centre is under construction in Lumbala Nguimbo to accommodate
approximately 500 returned refugees. In cooperation with the local
administration, bridges over the rivers Luanduli and Tchipupa are being
rebuilt and small bridges built over rivers along the Lumbala Nguimbo -
Mussuma road. Approximately 4,720 persons in the town received food
assistance last month and food distribution points have expanded up to
locations near the bridges on the Luanguinga and Mussuma rivers.

OBSERVATION: Please note that the information contained in this report may
have changed since received by OCHA Luanda.

OCHA Angola
Av. Comandante Valódia 206 - 5 Andar, Luanda, Angola
Tel. (244-2) 444 321 Fax. (244-2) 442 710


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