Angola - DHA: 21-25.Jul.97
Angola - DHA: 21-25.Jul.97
DHAGVA 97/0309
ANGOLA
Weekly Update on Humanitarian Activities
Period covered: 21-25 July 1997
The information contained in this report was provided by the United
Nations Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit in Luanda (UCAH)
MILITARY/POLITICAL SITUATION
1. The situation across the country remains tense. United Nations
Agencies and NGOs are monitoring the situation closely to ensure the
security of their staff on the ground. In regards to this, Maitre Beye
met with the NGOs on Wednesday 23 June and briefed them on the current
military and political situation in the country. The main theme of the
briefing centered on the need for NGOs to be aware that the situation
had deteriorated significantly and that all must adopt a degree of
caution when carrying out activities in the provinces. Close
collaboration with MONUA on the ground is currently being planned and
security focal points are now established.
2. Maitre Beye visited Bailundo on 18 July to discuss with UNITA
leadership the outstanding tasks that must be completed in the context
of the Lusaka Protocol and Security Council Resolution 1118,
specifically, the re-activation of the normalisation of state
administration, the transformation of radio Vorgan to a non-partisan FM
radio station and information on the strength and location of the
presidential guard and so-called mining police. The representative of
the Joint Commission returned to Luanda to deliver the following
information received in Bailundo from UNITA's leadership: 1) The force
of the mining police is equal to 1,718 men, the Presidential Guard
numbers 1,245 soldiers. 2) UNITA will agree to start normalisation of
state administration in 41 new locations to be undertaken in the next 15
days. 3) The UNITA Information representative will travel to Jamba to
instruct radio Vorgan personnel to stop hostile propaganda.
3. Both the SRSG and the Troika dismissed the information received
from UNITA as neither complete nor credible and urged UNITA to be more
forthcoming about armed elements. The SRSG and the Troika also stated
that the locations indicated for normalisation do not reflect the
territorial continuity that had already been agreed upon by the
government and UNITA at an earlier date. The government has completely
rejected the information delivered by the UNITA representative and notes
that all 41 locations identified by UNITA for normalisation are far
behind UNITA lines, totally isolated and unsafe for GURN authorities.
The government announced that they will begin the normalisation of state
administration on their own on 25 July. Additionally, the government
states that the number given for the presidential guard indicate a mere
10 percent of the reality.
4. A Crisis Management Team has been formulated to meet daily and
analyze the developing situation in the country. The team is chaired by
the MONUA Chief of Staff and includes the MONUA Chief of Operations,
Chief of Administration, Assistant of the SRSG, MONUA Political Affairs
Officer, and representatives of Civpol, UNDP and UCAH.
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
5. Against this background, humanitarian operations continue
throughout the country. None of the NGOs or UN Agencies have pulled
out any staff. In some locations, mainly Malange and Uige, NGO staff
have minimised some of their movements to avoid any unnecessary or
possible security situations. The UN and NGOs continue to monitor the
humanitarian situation in Lunda Norte, specifically in the towns
receiving the largest amount of IDPs. The number of displaced in
Andrada is now estimated to be over 8,000. Additional IDPs have been
assessed in the towns of Mbuia (220) and Maludi (173), and WFP reports
an influx of 618 IDPs to the town of Saurimo from the areas of
Tchiluage, Dala Tchiluage and Machata Luembe (Lunda Sul). The IDPs are
settling with friends and family for the moment. The IDPs that arrived
to Suarimo also reported that there was a group of Rwandan refugees
situated in the town of Dala Tchiluage. The government also reported an
influx of some 350 IDPs to the town of Fucuama in Lunda Norte
province. There continues to be further unconfirmed reports of
clashes between UNITA and the government and State Television (TPA)
said that UNITA had recently re-taken the town of Luia and had attacked
the town of Canjangito (phonetic spelling) on 21 July where civilians
were reportedly killed.
6. UNHCR reported on July 25 that some 900 Rwandan refugees had
arrived to Luau Moxico province and that 3,000 were said to be also on
route to Luau. UNHCR and UCAH travelled to Luau on 26 July and assessed
some 1,500 Rwandan and Burundese refugees. UNHCR will begin
interviewing the refugees to assess status.
7. In other humanitarian developments, UCAH's Field Advisor in Huila
province and the IOM representative are in the process of assessing the
areas of return for a group of some 1,113 IDPs from Huila wanting to
return to Cunene. UCAH, IOM and MINARS assessed municipalities of
return in Cunene province between 17-19 July. The first three areas
assessed, including Namaconde, Obandja and Cuanhama were found to have
fair to good conditions for return including health centres, schools and
some NGO presence. The final municipality of Cuvelai was also assessed,
where the expected IDP return is estimated at 290 people. Parts of this
municipality are under control of UNITA while other areas seem to have a
high military presence. Therefore no return to this municipality is
recommended.
8. In a more positive development, the Humanitarian Coordination Group
(HCG) at the national level has recently been re-activated following
consultations between MINARS and UCAH with the first meeting having
taken place on 23 July to reformulate the composition and the Terms of
Reference of this coordination mechanism. The new HCG will bring in
high level representatives of key line governmental Ministries including
the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Planning
(in the context of the Community Rehabilitation Programme). The HCG was
previously formed in 1995 and ran until mid 1996. However, this
coordination group stopped operating due to poor representation and the
fact that the composition and Terms of Reference did not reflect the new
context of the time. It is expected, that the newly revived HCG will
serve as the focal point for the coordination of all humanitarian
activities and will be the main body deciding on policy and procedures
for the same.
DEMOBILISATION
9. As of 25 July, a total of 19,050 ex-FMU (UNITA) troops had been
demobilised within the context of the ongoing Rapid Demobilisation
exercise. Taking into consideration that 2,336 under-age troops were
demobilised prior to the Rapid Demobilisation exercise, this brings the
total number of demobilised personnel to date to 21,386.
10. As refers to the second phase, demobilisation activities have been
completed at Negage and N'tuco SDCs, while demobilisation is expected to
be completed soon at the SDC in Quibaxe.
11. As regards the third phase, activities are scheduled to begin this
week at the SDCs in Chitembo and Lumege. Meanwhile at Chitembo, IOM has
completed the transportation of family members of ex-FMU troops who were
incorporated into FAA. Within the RDP framework, families of ex-UNITA
troops who have been incorporated into the unified army are entitled to
humanitarian assistance (food aid rations and reinstallation kit) and
transportation to their areas of resettlement. At Catala SDC
demobilisation activities which had started on 16 July have been
temporarily suspended following a request by local UNITA officers who
are concerned with reports of the volatile security situation in the
province. As for Muchinda SDC, where UNITA troops failed to present
themselves for the final headcount, the Technical Working Group on
Demobilisation and Reintegration is finalising a formal recommendation
to the Joint Commission.
12. As for the fourth phase, preparations are underway to carryout the
headcount on 25 July, to determine the number of personnel eligible for
demobilisation at the SDCs in Caiundo (Kuando Kubango) and Andulo (Bie).
Demobilisation activities are originally scheduled to begin at these
locations, as well as for the Military War Disabled in Kuando Kubango by
11 August.
THIS REPORT IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET THROUGH RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH) - Luanda
Mr. Ramiro Lopes da Silva
Tel.: (244 2) 34 82 05 / 34 10 72
Fax: (244 2) 34 27 10
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Mr. Arjun Katoch
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1401
Fax: (41 22) 788.6389
Registry E-Mail:
Rosemary.Addo-Yirenkyi@dha.unicc.org
Complex Emergencies Division (CED)
New York
Ms. Agnes Asekenye
Tel.: (1 212) 963.5406
Fax: (1 212) 963.3630
E-Mail: asekenye@un.org
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: Moulin-Acevedo@dha.unicc.org
distributed by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Volunteers in Technical Assistance
Disaster Information Center lists: listproc@vita.org
sitreps nat-dsr
appeal fireline
web: www.vita.org rwanda
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
comments/suggestions/requests to incident@vita.org