Angola - DHA-29: 26 August - 9 September 1996
Angola - DHA-29: 26 August - 9 September 1996
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN ANGOLA
Period covered: 26 August-9 September 1996, No. 29
The information contained in this report was provided by
the United Nations Humanitarian Assistance
Coordination Unit in Luanda (UCAH)
OVERALL SITUATION
- Administrative and technical procedures have started for
the demobilisation process of underage soldiers and
modalities for their departure from the quartering areas
are being defined.
- During the last weeks, due to some security incidents
there has been a decrease in the humanitarian activities
especially in Moxico, Bie and Uige provinces. During the
last security meeting at UCAH on 5 September, the UNAVEM
Chief Security Officer reported that, since early August,
cease-fire violations had increased throughout the country.
- UCAH welcomes the arrival of Ms Judith Lewis, Assistant
Director.
Humanitarian Relief Assistance
(a) Health
On 1 September, the Vice-Minister of Health, Ms Teresa
Cohen, chaired the ceremony to commemorate the Health
Workers day, on 25 September. From 1 to 25 September,
weekly debates will take place, concerning health issues
and development. Some of the issues are : primary health
care and development, the role of the hospital in the
reference system of health care, financial participation of
the population, the role of private health care, strategies
for a rationalisation of drug resources. The inaugurating
ceremony took place in the Health Centre and maternity in
the municipio of Cazenga (suburb of Luanda), where the NGO
MSF-B provides technical support to the delivery room since
1989 and has an integrated health service.
Preparations are underway for the second phase of the
national polio vaccination campaign, which will take place
from 14 to 18 September in Government and UNITA
administered areas. This second campaign will also try to
cover the areas which were not covered during the first
phase.
On 28 August, the Sub-Committee on Health held its monthly
meeting at MINSA. The main points discussed were :
(a) the Meningitis Epidemic. Meningitis should not have a
mortality rate higher than 5 percent. However, in 1994,
2,150 cases were detected with 35 percent mortality, in
1995, 2,953 cases with 22 percent mortality. Since the
beginning of 1996, 279 cases have been reported with 34
percent mortality rate. Preparations are currently underway
to define a common national strategy to address the
situation.
(b) The Rapid Alert Epidemiological Surveillance System
from UNICEF has now been implemented in 14 provinces
throughout the country. 55 sitio sentinelas are currently
operational.
(b) Seeds and Tools
Concerning the seeds and tools campaign, 80 percent of the
ODA seeds have already been transported by WFP to most of
the provinces in the country : Uige, Zaire, Moxico, Lunda
Sul, Kuanza Norte, Kuando Kubango, Bie and Huila. On
standby are the provinces of Benguela, Kuanza Sul and
Huambo. The provinces of Lunda Norte, Cunene and Namibe are
not on the original distribution plan.
600 Metric Tons (MTs) of seeds of the European Union s
contribution have arrived in the port of Luanda at the end
of August, and are still waiting for customs clearance, as
well as the remaining 20 percent of the ODA contribution.
It appears that a new process has been introduced,
involving the National Bank, which has to issue a clearance
in order to obtain the import licence. Together with the
EU, WFP - who is handling the EU contribution - is
currently trying to resolve the issue. These new banking
controls and customs procedures have caused delays in
clearing several shipments of critical relief and
rehabilitation supplies presently being held in Angolan
ports. UCAH has already formally approached MINARS in an
attempt to identify an operative solution to overcome this
new constraint. The remaining 800 MT and the first
consignment of tools are expected to arrive in Lobito soon.
On 4 September, the Sub-Committee held its bi-weekly
meeting at MINADER. The NGOs present during the meeting
gave an overview of their current agriculture related
activities. The meeting is a forum for UN and other
Agencies, NGOs and donors to discuss the strategy on
agriculture.
(c) Internally Displaced Population (IDPs) :
The National Institute of Statistics (INE), concluded a
UNICEF-UNDP funded survey on IDPs. 292,000 IDPs were
registered in 52 camps in eight provinces. The survey
indicates the IDPs origin and-or desired reinstallation
communes. The preliminary results confirm that a major part
of the IDPs desire to be reinstalled in the municipality of
origin. The survey also shows that the total number of IDPs
is approximately 50 percent higher than expected.
(d) Other
Since the beginning of September, rehabilitation of the
railway between Luanda and Dondo (Kuanza Norte) has
started. This is a project initiated and financed by the
Government. One team is rehabilitating the part between
Luanda and Catete (Bengo province), a second team is
rehabilitating the part between Dondo and Catete. WFP is
providing food-for-work for the 155 workers and their
families.
WFP-Rome is currently finalising an agreement with the
German Government, who is contributing USD 1,350,000 to
finance demining activities in Angola, related with the WFP
sponsored rural road repair rehabilitation programme. Part
of the contribution will go directly to WFP-Angola for
administrative costs and for the management of the projects
in the field. A German demining NGO Menschen Gegen Minen
(People against Mines) has been identified and will soon
arrive to work in the municipality of Nambuangongo (North
of Bengo province).
Overview per province
Luanda
On 29 August, the Luanda Provincial Humanitarian
Coordination Group (PHCG) held a meeting with the UN
Agencies and NGOs active in the province. The PHCG is
co-chaired by the Vice Governor of Luanda, MINARS and UCAH.
The objective of the PHCG is to strengthen the coordination
of the overall humanitarian assistance in the province. The
PHCG will meet on a monthly basis, every last Wednesday of
the month. Next meeting is scheduled for 25 September 1996
at 10h00 at the Provincial Government. During the first
meeting, the conditions of the displaced population were
discussed. A working group comprised of UN Agencies and IOM
has been set up to assess the current situation of the IDPs
in the camps.
Bengo
WFP handed over USD 32,000 to the Angolan NGO AAD (Angolan
Action for Development), as part of a Japanese donation to
WFP for road rehabilitation. The funds will be used in
support of the rehabilitation of the Caxito-Canacassala
road, to assist the return of the displaced people in the
camp of Boa Esperan=E7a. WFP provided hand tools, food
rations and transport for food-for-work on the road.
Uige
On 24 August, the second government convoy carrying food
and non-food items arrived in Uige under UNAVEM escort. A
WFP convoy also arrived on 26 August. However, both convoys
were checked at UNITA checkpoints, resulting in delay and
some damage.
The international NGO Food for the Hungry (FHI) has arrived
in Uige and has begun setting up an office in Puri (East of
Uige). FHI, which has not operated before in Angola plans
to work in agriculture and community health.
From 28 August to 3 September, a FAO-WFP delegation visited
Uige to look into the possibility of starting agricultural
and food- for-work programmes in the province.
WFP, UCAH, UNHCR, the NGOs Goal and FHI, travelled to
Cangola to deliver tuberculosis medicines, donated by the
NGO CICS to the war disabled centre. WFP has sent food for
tuberculosis patients. The CARITAS fathers will distribute
the food until an alternative NGO is identified.
NGOs currently working in the province mainly focus on
health activities. While better health coverage continues
to be a general concern, particularly in isolated areas
such as Bungo, Quimbele and Bembe, there is an obvious
shortage of assistance in agriculture and education. Both
sectors are in need of long term assistance. At the
moment, Caritas and FHI are the only organisations with
long term agricultural plans. The Norwegian Refugee
Council and Christian Children s Fund appear to be the
only NGOs planning significant educational assistance.
Malange
Food aid has been reduced by 41 percent compared to last
months figures, as general food distribution has just
concluded. The NGO MSF-H has recently produced its report
on the nutritional survey, carried out in July in the
district of Calandula (NW of Malange city). Even if the
survey indicates a fairly high prevalence of acute
malnutrition, the report concludes that this is caused by
poor health conditions rather than lack of food. General
food distribution is therefore not recommended.
Lunda Sul
The NGO LWF is currently rehabilitating a school and
clinic in the village of Pelengues, to which displaced
people, residing in Saurimo, had stated to return during
the month of August. On 30 August, a commercial convoy
arrived in Saurimo from Luanda, with 700 MTs of
foodstuffs, including industrial material. The convoy,
escorted by Zimbabwean Blue Helmets, transported cooking
oil, frozen fish, sugar, rice, soap and building
materials, some of which is destined for the province of
Lunda Norte. This is the first commercial convoy to
arrive in Lunda Sul since 1992.
Moxico
The NGO LWF has started to work in the village of
Saccasanji, 15 km outside Luena. Over 3,000 of the
original inhabitants have started returning to this
village during the month of August. LWF is building a
school and health post for the village, and will provide
the people with seeds and tools in the upcoming
agricultural campaign.
Kuando Kubango
CARE has carried out a crop assessment survey in the
North West part of the province. It appears that the
Government administered areas of Menongue and Longa, show
greater food deficits than UNITA administered areas of
Dumbo and Fio. At family subsistence level, the harvests
are expected to last 3.2 months in Menongue and Longa
compared to 10 months in Dumbo and Fio.
Upon CARE s crop assessment survey, WFP has decided to
continue food assistance in Menongue until the 1997
harvest. However, WFP will use food-for-work projects in
accordance with various government ministries such as
health, education, agriculture and community services.
Upon WFP s request, CARE will carry out a nutritional
survey in Cuito Cuanavale in the middle of September.
SCF-UK will provide vegetable seeds to 11,500 needy
families in Mucusso (near the Namibian border), Jamba and
Licua. The seeds will be distributed through Caritas-WFP.
Licua quartering area : A joint mission UCAH-WHO has
confirmed that there are no epidemiological problems.
Twelve people were reported to have died in three weeks.
It should be noted that since 1 month, 4,000 people had
arrived from Mavinga and Jamba, where the malnutrition
rate is extremely high.
Huila
The NGO AICF stopped its general food distribution in
Caconda, after a joint nutritional survey - food security
evaluation, carried out between 18 and 20 June, which
indicated 7.9 percent of global malnutrition (of which
0.5 percent severe malnutrition). AICF had started the
distribution programme in October 1995, after nutrition
survey indicating 14.7 percent of malnutrition, of which
2.7 percent severe malnutrition. Distribution included
5,400 families, or approximately 24,000 beneficiaries, as
well as a supplementary feeding programme for children
under five years. In order to stimulate the return of the
population of Caconda to a bigger autonomy, AICF will
assist the same beneficiaries in September with the seeds
and tools campaign, and will intervene in the water
sector. Main problem for Caconda is that it is difficult
to access. A CARE nutritional evaluation carried out in
Catala at the end of August, reveals a global
malnutrition rate of 10.9 percent, of which 1.8 percent
of severe malnutrition. The report recommends among
others to continue food distribution, but also to define
food-for-work activities in the province with the
objective to gradually terminate food distribution.
Benguela
The return of 15,000 people, who should have started
their resettlement into their villages of origin at the
end of August is still on stand by at the day of writing.
People mainly come from Lubango (Huila province) and the
province of Kuando Kubango. The Government has decided to
put the operation on hold for security reasons,
especially after the incident occurred with approximately
60 IDPs on 30 July in Negage (U=EDge province).
Huambo
The agency Swiss Humanitarian Aid, in cooperation with
WFP and the NGO SCF-UK, which has rural rehabilitation
projects in the region, has started rehabilitation of the
bridge in Sachitembo on the Sambo-Huambo road. The road
has been previously demined by Halo Trust.
Bie
Many food-for-work projects are expected to be concluded
at the end of August. WFP is assisting with food-for-work
in six (of the eight) municipalities of the province for
projects in education, health, water supply, public
health, roads, bridges and agricultural sectors. CARE has
carried out a crop assessment survey in the province.
Results indicate a greater food deficit in Government
administered areas of Kuito, Kunhinga, Chinguar and
Katabola, where harvests are expected to last an average
of 8.5 months at the family subsistence level. In
Chitembo however (a UNITA administered area), the harvest
is expected to last 4 years.
Demobilisation and Reintegration
For information on the demobilisation and reintegration
process, please refer to the Demobilisation and
Reintegration Bulletin produced by UCAH, sent jointly
with the present bulletin.
Mine Action Programme
INAROE : The training of the Uige demining Brigade will
be completed on 10 September.
Demining operations continued in Kuito and Malange.
The Moxico demining brigade will shortly commence
retraining after two months of inactivity prior to
deployment.
It is anticipated that recruits for the Huambo demining
brigade will assemble at Viana for training on 11
September.
MECHEM : has started demining the road Saurimo - Rio
Cassai.
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Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH)-Luanda
Mr. Romero Lopez da Silva
Tel.: (244 2) 341.882 - 348.824
Fax:(1 212) 963.3011 ext. 341
Complex Emergencies Division (CED)-New York
Mr. Steve Gleason
Tel.: (1 212) 963.5406
Fax:(1 212) 963.3630
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB)-Geneva
Ms. Deborah Saidy-Mr. Chris Kaye
Tel.: (41 22) 788.6384-788.6385
Fax:(41 22) 788.6386
Press to contact (DHA-Geneva)
Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2856
Fax:(41 22) 917.0023
Telex:414242 DHA CH