Angola - DHA-39/40: 23 September - 7 October 1996

  HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN ANGOLA
 Period covered: 23 September - 7 October - Week 39-40

  The information contained in this report was provided by
 the United Nations Humanitarian Assistance
  Coordination Unit in Luanda (UCAH)



OVERALL SITUATION
On 1 October, nearly 18 hours after inauguration of the
bridge over the river Cassai in the province of Moxico, the
first WFP humanitarian road convoy arrived in Luena
(province of Moxico), transporting 753 MTs of food, in 38
trucks.  With this road convoy, WFP is achieving its
objective which is to transport all possible humanitarian
relief assistance by road, contributing to the free
circulation of people and goods.  Of the 80,000 MTs
transported since early 1996, 60,000 MTs have been moved by
road from Luanda, Lobito and Namibe, towards 17 of the 18
provinces of the country.

Over the last few months, several bridges have been
rehabilitated and roads have been declared open.
Humanitarian activities continue to expand to newly
accessible areas.  Therapeutic feeding, water and
sanitation and rehabilitation of health posts are being
implemented in many areas which were cut off from any
assistance for several years.  More details are available
in the -Overview per Province-.

However, the presence of recently landmines in some areas,
especially in the central region, is raising serious
concerns.  Next planting season will largely depend on the
free circulation of persons and goods.

HUMANITARIAN RELIEF ASSISTANCE
1.  OVERVIEW PER SECTOR

a) Health
The official report on the Second Phase of the National
Polio Vaccination Campaign is still not available on the
date of reporting.  Preliminary results however show that
more than 2 million children have been vaccinated
indicating a coverage of 70 percent of the target group.
More details will be given as soon as the official report
is available.

After supporting the Angolan efforts to implement National
Immunisation Day at the country level during August and
September.  WHO is now working together with the Ministry
of Health to implement the acute flaccid paralysis (AFP)
surveillance system at the national level, a keystone of
the communal strategy for polio eradication from Africa by
the year 2000.  To ensure the success of these efforts,
training activities are being implemented at national level
with extension to the provincial level, the provinces being
selected on an epidemiological and operational basis.  The
activities coordinated by the Ministry of Health are being
supported by WHO, Rotary International, UCAH, UNICEF, NGOs,
and UNAVEM III.

b) Agriculture
An FAO mission traveled to Uige from the 2nd to the 8th of
October to finalise the preparation of an inter-agency
project to be implemented by WFP, FAO and IFAD
(International Fund for Agricultural Development).  The
project will be financed by the Italian Cooperation.

The activities are designed to complement the Northern
Province Food Crop Project (Kuanza Norte, Malange and Uige)
financed by IFAD Technical support will be given for the
development of a provincial programme, the strengthening of
local farmer associations.  A productive investment which
should support community-based projects relating to
rehabilitation of the agricultural production.  The project
aims to maximise the impact of existing resources and help
consolidate the peace process.

The celebration of the World Food Day in Angola is being
organised by FAO.  On 16 October, the main ceremony will
take place in Huambo, chaired by the Minister of
Agriculture and the FAO Representative.

c) Seeds and Tools Campaign
The National Seeds and Tools Campaign is progressing well.
To date all seeds and tools consignments donated by the
European Union and ODA (Overseas Development Agency) and
coordinated by SCF-UK have been transported by WFP to their
destinations.  Except for Kwanza Sul, all provinces have
been served.

2. OVERVIEW PER PROVINCE

Benguela
MDM-Fs surgical programme is still on-going in Benguela.
At the moment, the team is composed of a surgeon, an
anesthetist, two nurses and a lab technician.  The aim is
to identify doctors and-or surgeons who wish to receive
training with the final objective to obtain autonomous
local teams at the level of general health care as well as
the management of the different pharmacies.  MDM is
currently discussing with the -Colegio de pos-gradu=E4cao de
Ciudadas Medicas- to include the training in the frame of
the national university course.  This training also
comprises courses on anesthetics laboratory and para-
medical data.

Due to low rainfall in the previous rainy season, some
wells in barrios of Cubal are drying up.  To respond to
this situation, OXFAM is planning a small emergency
intervention to deepen the wells and drill new ones using a
small drilling rig ensuring good access to water pumps for
people living in these parts of town.

OXFAM is continuing its operational programmes in Ganda,
Cubal and Balombo.  The programmes aim to improve basic
health conditions for displaced and resident populations by
improving access to clean water, improving sanitation
facilities and providing basic health education to improve
hygiene practices within the communities.

OXFAM has developed a three year programme proposal for
Bengueda province where they hope to develop and strengthen
the water, sanitation and health education work alongside a
food security and agriculture programme from January 1997
through December 1999.

Bie
Several mine accidents have been reported in the province.
In Conhanga, a FAA truck detonated and anti-tank mine on a
previously well-used road.  Fortunately, there were no
injuries.  Investigators are underway to find out if the
mine was an old one or was recently laid.  Another mine
accident in Catabola killed one person and injured three
others.  The accident happened while the victims were
repairing the bridge over the River Kunje.  A UNAVEM III
military vehicle detonated an anti-tank mine in Camacupa
injuring four Brazilian soldiers.  This mine was reported
to be an old mine.  Because of these incidents, WFP is
discontinuing food-for-work support to the rehabilitation
of the bridge.

The OXFAM programme is to drill 15 wells in Kuito and
Kunje.  The rehabilitation of 5 older boreholes has begun.
Boreholes will have hand pumps installed and teams will
receive training in installation and maintenance.  To date,
7 holes have been drilled successfully.

Huambo
Thanks to the rehabilitation carried out by the Dutch Red
Cross, Caala Village central reservoir has water and can
directly supply the Caala Municipal Hospital.  Several
repairs were required on the pipeline between the catchment
and the reservoir.

Huila
Cases of meningitis have been reported in the province
especially in the communities of Chibna and Caala and
Qudengues.

Upon request of UNAVEM III, Southern Human Rights Officer,
UNICEF  Lubangos team are opening a new borehole inside the
prison of Lubango.

The road Cacula-Caconda Caluquembe was opened which will
greatly increase agencies and NGOs to access these
municipalities.  As a result, mines awareness training has
already started in Caconda.

Kuanza Sul
The health authorities in the municipality of Cassongue
have reported 80 fatal cases of rabies.  Together with
IPMP, UCAH will carry out a survey as  soon as possible to
assess the situation.

The rehabilitation of the hospital in Quibala has been
carried out by IPMP with the assistance of UNICEF and the
Portuguese Institute of Cooperation.  A medical team from
IPMP is present in the hospital.

 On 26 September, the bridge over the river Bonga has been
 inaugurated by UNAVEM III.  The bridge is 80 meters long
 and can take 50 MTs vehicles.  The bridge links Quibala
 to the municipalities Dondo in Kwanza Norte.  The repairs
 have been carried out by the Indian Company.

 Lunda Norte
 LWF has initiated an express literacy course in Dundo
 (developed via CARITAS) which shortens the time for
 people to learn to read and write (from an average of six
 months to three months).  More than 800 women are
 presently enrolled for the course.  LWF plans to visit
 UNITA controlled areas to look at possible areas of
 programme intervention.

 In Nzaji like in Dondo, horticultural activities have
 given good results.  The project of assisting the local
 population to plant gardens and sell their produce was
 given a boost by the inclusion of a food for work
 component negotiated with WFP.  One specific health and
 sanitation activity was the cleaning up of Fuenama town,
 using food for work to motivate residents to dig refuse
 pits.

 Lunda Sul
 According to Government statistics one year ago, there
 were over 85,000 IDPs in Saurano, the provincial capital.
 At the moment, the number of IDPs is of approximately 40,
 000 which means that over 40,000 have voluntarily left
 Saurano to go to their communities of origin within the
 government controlled areas.  LWF is assisting the
 displaced population in their resettlement in their
 community of origin.

 Moxico
 On 30 September, the bridge over the river Cassai on the
 road from Saurimo to Luena was inaugurated.  The bridge
 was reconstructed by the Brazilian and Ukrainian
 Engineering Companies and has a capacity of 50 MTs.

 The next day, on 1 October, the first WFP humanitarian
 road convoy arrived in Luena.  The 38 truck convoy
 transported 760 MTs of food.  It needs to be noted that
 the convoy was not escorted by UNAVEM III.  With this
 convoy, WFP is achieving its objective to transport all
 possible humanitarian relief assistance per road
 contributing to the stimulation of the free circulation
 of people and goods.

 A measles epidemic has been reported in the province and
 more specifically in the municipalities of Lumege, Luena
 and Cazombo.  A vaccination campaign organised by UNICEF,
 the Ministry of Health, UNITA and MSF-B is currently
 being carried out.

 During the past month, more than 7,000 displaced have
 returned to Saccassange and approximately 4,000 displaced
 have returned to Lumege Pinto (at 14 kilometers North of
 Luena) LWF is assisting the IDPs to resettle and
 reintegrate into their village of origin.  The focus is
 the rehabilitation of social infrastructure in most
 project areas.

 The following NGOs and UN Agencies are present in the
 province of Moxico: LWF, MSF-B, SCF-US, AHA, MI, MAG,
 ADRA- and CARITAS, UNICEF, WFP and UNHCR.

 Uige
 CICS has handed over the surgery department of the
 hospital in Negage to MDM-F, who has started the
 reorganisation and training of the laboratory personnel.
 A surgical team composed of a surgeon, an anesthetist and
 a nurse will arrive soon.  MDM-F will start withdrawing
 from the maternity in Uige and Quibaxe as their
 objectives have been achieved.  However, they will
 continue to provide medicines and material regularly and
 will supervise the activities on a weekly basis.  MDM-F
 intends to open a new health post in Cangola.
 Considering the fact that Cangola is isolated and that
 there is a large population, the health post will have
 more the structure of a health centre.  A nurse and mid-
 wife have already arrived.

 Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has finished constructing
 a bridge 4 km to the north of Macula on the road to
 Kimbata.  The reconstruction of another bridge 5
 kilometers to the North of Macula, also on the road to
 Kimbata has progressed.  NRC uses a combined technique
 using iron from war destroyed trucks, cement and man
 power.  The road from Maqula to Zombo down to Damba is
 nearly completed.

 Under the agreement of UNHCR, NRC has started the
 construction of two schools.  On 1 November, all 6
 schools covered under the UNHCR project should be under
 construction.  Between 30 September and 18 October, NRC
 is organising a seminar in Maquela to Zombo to train 25
 teachers for informal education.

 Zaire
 The road between Mbanza-Congo to Gomboco was officially
 opened by UNAVEM III on 3 October.  In April - May 1996,
 UNITA and FAA personnel under the supervision of the
 Brazilian Engineers.  In May-June, the Brazilian
 Engineering team repaired the road and bridges at the Rio
 Lucunga.  This road connects the Eastern and Western
 regions of the province.

 DEMOBILISATION AND REINTEGRATION
 Please refer to UCAHs Information Bulletin on
 Demobilisation and Reintegration.

 MINE ACTION PROGRAMME
 INAROE has recently trained demining brigades for the
 provinces of Kuando, Kubungo and Moxico.  Equipment
 deficiencies at Cazombo and Menongue are now being
 addressed and the demining brigades are on stand-by to
 commence activities.  A shortage of international
 military supervisors for the brigades continues to
 prevent operations from moving forward.  A request has
 been put forward to 2 of the participating 7 countries
 assisting with demining activities in order to use
 instructors as supervisors in the field.

 The Uige demining brigade has no radio equipment
 available and also lacks the presence of international
 military supervisors and, as a result has not commenced
 activities.

 The Huambo demining brigade is expected to complete
 training at Viana training centre by the end of October.

 The final demining brigade to be trained in 1996,
 assigned for the province of Luanda Sud, will begin
 training in Mid-November.

 The total trained teams by the end of 1996 will include
 brigades in Cazombo, Saurimo, Uige, Kuito, Huambo,
 Menongue and Malange.

 Halo Trust, the 10th demining team composed of soldiers
 from Villa Nova has finished training and ha moved to
 Bailundo.


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-Ms. Maria Keating
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
E-Mail: dhagva at dha.unicc.org