Angola - OCHA: 16-22.Jul.98
Angola - OCHA: 16-22.Jul.98
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN ANGOLA
Period covered: 16 - 22 July 1998
The information contained in this report was provided by the
United Nations Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit in Luanda (UCAH)
General Situation
The overall situation throughout the country is at most tense. The
negotiations for peace process are currently in an impasse. According to
the UN mission reports, UNITA is concentrating their troops in various
areas in the country and FAA has officially announced being prepared to
respond immediately, when so needed. Presently, both the Head of State and
the Minister of Defense are out of the country.
The Parliament of Angola approved a resolution on 21 July condemning the
military activities of UNITA, which are 'deteriorating the actual peace
process and creating social chaos'. The Parliament recommended the
Government to use all the means to halt the imminent armed conflicts. The
status of UNITA as a political party has also been questioned.
The Joint Commission has had several follow-up meetings during the last
week, but no ordinary sessions due to the absence of the Leader of UNITA
Delegation in the Joint Commission who is in Andulo since last May. In the
current bewildering situation, Angola received a short visit by the
President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela on 20 July. The South African
Head of State was on his way to Brazil and Argentina for an official visit.
During the 30 minute stop in Luanda, President Mandela reiterated his
support to the Angolan Government in its attempt to consolidate peace in
the country. The Angolan President, Eduardo dos Santos has taken part in
the 2nd Summit of the Portuguese Speaking Countries' Community (CPLP)
during the past week in Cap Verde. The Summit was gathered in order to
further enhance the allegiance between the seven Portuguese-speaking
countries namely, Angola, Mozambique, Cap Verde, Sao Tome and Principe,
Guinea-Bissau, Brazil and Portugal. The main attention of the Summit was
focused on the situation of the Angolan peace process and the civil war of
Guinea-Bissau. The Summit resulted with several agreements for cooperation
between the 7 countries.General Humanitarian Situation. The humanitarian
situation has obviously not improved in the prevailing political/military
situation. The confirmed number of IDPs continues to increase significantly
as the insecurity is widely deteriorating in the country. The limited
access is hindering humanitarian interventions and assessment missions in
many areas. Lately, both UNITA and the National Police have hampered
several missions with unnecessary complications and in some cases
threatened the international humanitarian actors.
As of 21 July, the humanitarian organizations have confirmed 95,448 new
IDPs out of whom 42,773 are being assisted while unconfirmed reports still
estimate the existence of some 150,000 new IDPs throughout the country. The
most affected provinces of this new wave of IDPs are Huambo (18,966), Bengo
(17,019), Kwanza Norte (16,022), Huila (11,556), Lunda Norte (7,871),
Malanje (7,650) and Lunda Sul (6,894). The other hosting provinces (Uige,
Zaire, Benguela and Kuando Kubango) have each less than 6,000 new IDPs.
The need of relief aid items is increasing as the number of displaced
people is growing. Since many of the main roads are not safe, the
transportation of food and non-food items is facing difficulties in several
areas. For the first time after two years the World Food Program (WFP)
started to air lift food to Kuito, capital city of Bie Province. If this is
to continue, the transport costs will rise far beyond the expectations.
Also, the existing food stocks could soon be eaten up as the quantities to
be distributed are getting bigger than predicted. The World Food Program
could assist with the present food storage an additional 150,000 people for
a period of 2-3 months.
A sudden outbreak of a meningitis epidemic is further aggravating the
humanitarian situation in the provinces of Bie, Malanje and Lunda Norte.
Several hundreds of people are infected and almost one hundred people died
as an result of the epidemic. The Angolan Ministry of Health and the other
humanitarian agencies are worried about the imminent shortage of the
existing supplies. At the moment the situation can mainly be followed and
assisted in the provincial capitals and the nearby areas. The possible
spread of the epidemic to the inaccessible regions is so far unknown.
Obviously, if the access to these areas remains limited, the spread of
epidemic cannot be controlled.
Status of Appeal and Emergency Requirements
As of 13 July, UNDP has received US$ 2 millions, which covers more than 100
per cent of the amount requested. UNHCR has received US$ 9,6 millions
against the 23 millions requested. The overall response to the Appeal is
standing at US$ 33,5 millions (36,7 per cent) against the US$ 91 millions
requested, as of 13 July.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH) - Luanda
Mr. Francesco Strippoli
Tel.: (244 2) 39 77 74/39 35 43
Satellite Fax: (00873) 38 50 50 914
Complex Emergency Response /
Consolidated Appeal Process (CER/CAP) - Geneva
Mr. Ernest Chipman - Chief
Mr. Ayodele Fowler
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1406
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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