Angola - OCHA: 03-09.Sep.98

HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN ANGOLA
Period covered: 3 - 9 September 1998

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


GENERAL SITUATION
On 2 September, one day after the suspension of UNITA from the Government
and National Assembly, four opposition politicians launched a manifest
confirming their loyalty to the party, but also to the peace process and
the Lusaka Protocol. The manifest suspends the leadership of Jonas Savimbi
and stresses the need to establish a provisional leadership for the party.
Consequently, Mr. Eugenio Manuvakola was promoted for a representative of
new UNITA in Joint Commission and Mr. Jorge Valentim as the acting leader
of the party. Mr. Higino Carneiro, The Vice-Minister of Territory,
announced that the Government has already ended the dialogue with Dr.
Savimbi and his military.

President dos Santos welcomed the new wing of UNITA as a legitimate
interlocutor and expressed willingness to restart the negotiations with
-the Committee of Renovation- of the opposition party. Within a few days,
several other UNITA members announced their support for the manifest.

The new SRSG, Mr. Diallo concluded the discussion held with UN Secretary
General in South Africa saying that the international community is
impatient to see peace taking place in Angola.

On Monday 7 September, President dos Santos left for Zimbabwe to
participate in the meeting between the Head of States of SADC deliberating
a possibility of cease-fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According
to the Angolan press, Rwanda continues to deny its support to the troops of
the rebels and creates impasses in the negotiations.

GENERAL HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
The overall humanitarian situation remains highly critical throughout the
country. As the security situation continues to deteriorate, the number of
displaced people continues to increase. The concentration of new IDPs in
urban areas, as a result, is creating serious problems. On one hand the
agricultural land remains without a labor force just before the upcoming
rainy season. On the other hand the hosting communities are facing
difficulties in satisfying the needs of the increasing population. For
instance, in Malanje City the number of newly arrived displaced populations
is increasing the urban population with 15-20 percent. As the community
services and relief aid items are limited, the resources are rapidly
vanishing due to the unexpected increase of needs

As of 8 September, the humanitarian organisations have been able to confirm
184,841 new IDPs out of whom 167,306 are being assisted. The most affected
provinces are Malanje (38,380), Huila (26,474), Kwanza Norte (23,375),
Bengo (22,405), Huambo (11,515), Uige (11,467), Moxico (8,158), Benguela
(8,078), Zaire (7,674), Lunda Sul (6,894), and Bie (8,460).

The current politico/military situation is seriously hampering humanitarian
activities. As it has previously been reported, many of the humanitarian
agencies are in process of adjusting their policies to coincide with the
situation on the ground. Yet, they are facing difficulties in rapidly
motivating further funding for emergency intervention. IOM in Malanje is
going to close down their activities as a result of the deteriorating
insecurity and lack of funds.

STATUS OF APPEAL AND EMERGENCY REQUIREMENTS
The same as reported last time.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) 34.43.21/34.82.05
Satelite Fax: (1-212) 963.3011 (Ext. 341)

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: Annette.Choquet@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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