Angola - UCAH: 06-12.Apr.98
Angola - UCAH: 06-12.Apr.98
HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN ANGOLA
Period covered: 6-12 April 1998
The information contained in this report was provided by the United Nations
Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit in Luanda (UCAH)
GENERAL SITUATION
During the reporting period, significant developments were registered in
the peace process. The final tasks contemplated in the last timetable
agreed by the Joint Commission included the installation of UNITA's
leadership in Luanda, the promulgation of the status of the UNITA
President, the cessation of the broadcasting by UNITA's Radio Vorgan and
the extension of state administration to the identified sensitive areas
including Bailundo and Andulo.
On 1 April UNITA's Vice-President Antonio Dembo arrived to Luanda
accompanied by other senior UNITA members to ensure the partial completion
of one of the most vital tasks to be completed within the context of the
Lusaka Protocol, namely the installation of the UNITA leadership in Luanda.
Still within this context, a special edition of the official gazette was
published to promulgate the status of the UNITA President which had been
endorsed by the National Assembly and the President of the Republic last
year. In addition, Radio Vorgan ceased its broadcasts and is now finalizing
preparations to begin broadcasting as a commercial station from the Angolan
capital, Luanda. As for the extension of state administration to sensitive
locations, Government presence was installed in Mussende on 9 April while
negotiations are underway between the Government and UNITA to finalize the
modalities for this process to cover Bailundo, Andulo, Mungo and N'harea.
GENERAL HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
The overall humanitarian situation could be characterized as stable, yet
most humanitarian organisations are facing a period of doubt and
insecurity. This contradictory environment is characterized by pockets of
newly displaced persons (Huila, Malange, Benguela), remining of roads and
paths (Bie, Malange, Huila, Huambo) and an increase of serious banditry
attacks (Benguela, Huila, Malange, Huambo, Uige). While NGO and UN Agency
staff have not in general been targeted in these attacks, the atmosphere
for field workers is in many areas tense and unstable. In addition, huge
tracts of land in Moxico and Kuando Kubango provinces are still essentially
off-limits because of land mines, destroyed bridges, etc. and there are
unconfirmed reports of troop movement and other military activities in
those areas, as well as high levels of tension between the local population
and recently installed groups of ANP and State administrators.
While these indicators reveal a tense and fragile situation on the ground
(at municipal and commune level), State administrators working in
provincial capitals appear to be showing more interest in issues of
development and coordination. Humanitarian coordination structures and
other State initiatives appear to be advancing as the Government realizes
the need for basic services, particularly in areas where State
administration was recently normalized.
Another relevant development registered during the reporting period was the
departure of the Humanitarian Coordinator/UCAH Director/WFP Country
Director, Mr. Ramiro Lopes da Silva on 10 March after twenty months in
Angola. Mr. Lopes da Silva has been transferred to Rome where he has
assumed the directorship of the WFP Transport Division after an extremely
successful tenure in Angola. During his stay, UCAH through NGOs provided
multisectorial humanitarian assistance to over 78,000 quartered troops and
their 130,000 dependents, completed the demobilisation of over 49,700 UNITA
troops including close to 11,000 disabled, led and encouraged joint
assessment missions to monitor and respond to emerging crisis humanitarian
situations, supported the UN security system, reinforced and established
vital coordination mechanisms, provided information on humanitarian issues,
financial tracking in response to the appeals and the concerns of NGOs and
other humanitarian partners. Meanwhile, discussions are underway to confirm
the appointment and arrival of the new Humanitarian Coordinator.
HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons
- Uige province: Humanitarian organisations have confirmed the return o f
2,774 IDPs to Negage (427 families), comprising about 60 percent of the
potentia l caseload expected to return to Negage municipality. UNICEF and
DRC (Danish Refugee Council) are to begin the distribution of resettlement
benefits to this group by 15 April in Negage city and extend it to the
surrounding communes of Dimuka and Kiseke on 17 April.
- Bengo Province: According to the NGOs AAA and AAD (German Agro
Action/Angolan Action for Development), between February and March 1998
some 13,071 IDPs have been transported from the Boa Esperanza camp and
resettled in their villages of origin in the municipality of Nambuangongo.
- Benguela Province: According to the results of the joint CRS/MSF
evaluation of Cubal IDPs carried out in March, about 9,000 IDPs,
representing 75 percent of populations from communities to the east of
Cubal tow n, consider themselves as already resettled in their villages
while the remaining 25 percent do not intend to return. The report also
reveals that some 6,600 IDPs, representing 45 percent from communities to
the south/southeast of Cubal town, are planning to resettle this year while
55 percent do not plan to g o back this year.
New Displacements of Populations
- Longonjo, Huambo Province: As of mid-March, MSF-F reports the arrival of
some 4,000 new IDPs from Catabola and Chilata to Longonjo town following
banditry activities in their villages. Meanwhile, some of these IDPs have
started to return home. According to the most recent data provided by IOM,
the total of IDPs in Huambo Province stands at approximately 25,000
persons.
Humanitarian Assessments
Lovua, Lunda Norte: A joint assessment mission visited Lovua on 9 April to
verify the alleged presence of some 2,000 Rwandese. The mission confirmed
the presence of some 28 Rwandan asylum seekers in extremely poor conditions
and were informed of the presence of around 1,500 Rwandese at Teteje, a
location 53 kms from Lovua. Humanitarian organisations are assessing the
modalities to assist the most vulnerable while UNHCR studies a viable
solution for these asylum seekers together with the Angolan Government.
Kuando Kubango Province: A joint MINARS/IOM team traveled from Kuito to
Menongue to assess the situation of IDPs from Bie Province, found 691
persons (120 families) presently in the Menongue camp. These IDPs are fro m
Soma Kwanza, Mumbue and Chitembo municipalities and are expected to return
after the harvest.
Uige Province: A joint Government, UNITA, MONUA, UCAH and MdM mission
traveled to Cangola town and Caiungo commune on 9 April to assess the
security situation to determine the continuation of MdM's health activities
in the area. The mission was told by the inhabitants that as the area was
tense, the villagers sleep in the bush at night fearing attacks by bandits.
As a result of this uncertain security situation, MdM will most likely
suspend further assistance.
Status of Appeal and Emergency Requirements
Urgent funding is still required in order to maintain the operational
capacity of UNHCR, UNICEF and IOM, as well as, the non-food items transport
fund managed by WFP on behalf of the humanitarian community. Three months
after the launch of the 1998 UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal, the
response remains critically poor. As of 15 April, UNHCR has received as
contribution USD 37,044 from the Finish Refugee Council. Due to the lack
of financial response, UNHCR has revised its total requirements and is now
requesting for USD 16 million instead of the USD 23 million outlined in t
he 1998 Appeal. As possible consequences of this funding situation, the
continuation of UNHCR's operation may have to be reconsidered before the
middle of the year if the launching of the UNHCR appeal on 15 April does
not rapidly prompt significant contributions. Failing this timely support
from donors, UNHCR will be compelled to precipitate the hand-over of all
its projects to Government counterparts in area where the State
Administration has just been extended.
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 43 21
Fax: (1-212) 963 30 11 (Ext. 341)
Complex Emergency Response /
Consolidated Appeal Process (CER/CAP) - Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Mr. Thierry Delbreuve
Tel.: (41 22) 788.7019
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Abu.Conteh@dha.unicc.org
Complex Emergencies Division (CED)-New York
Ms. Agnes Asekenye-Oonyu
Tel.: (1 212) 963.1773
Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail: buer@un.org
Information Service
Ms. Therese Gastaut - Director
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2300
Fax: (41 22) 917.0030
E-Mail: tgastaut@unog.ch
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