Angola - OCHA: 01-07.Oct.98
Angola - OCHA: 01-07.Oct.98
HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN ANGOLA
Period covered: 01-07 October 1998
The information contained in this report was provided by the United Nations
Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit in Luanda (UCAH)
GENERAL SITUATION
On 2 October, three bullets hit the car of Abel Chivukuvuku, the ex-leader
of UNITA's Parliamentary group. Nobody was hurt in the incident.
During the week, Mr. Ajello, the Special Envoy of EU to the Great Lakes
region, consulted with President Dos Santos, the Angolan Prime Minister,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the SRSG, regarding the actual conflict
situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On 6 October, the Ambassador of USA in Angola claimed that the actual
impasse of the peace process was the reason for the suffering of the
Angolan people and requested all the parties involved to fulfill their
responsibilities assumed in Lusaka.
The Angolan Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jo o Miranda, warned the
governments of Togo and Burkina Faso to stop supporting UNITA military
forces. Delivering a speech to the General Assembly of the UN, he
reiterated the Government's intention to never again deal with Savimbi's
UNITA.
GENERAL HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
During the reporting period, the situation of IDPs, especially in Malanje
and Huambo, was of particular concern in light of the continuing increase
in their number. Following several military movements and attacks access to
the city of Malanje has been further restricted. Cambondo, one of the
reinstallation areas of IDPs in Malanje, was attacked on 27 September with
several casualties being registered among the displaced populations.
Consequently, the humanitarian community no longer has safe access to the
area. At the moment, provincial authorities and humanitarian organisations
are trying to develop alternative solutions for assisting the populations
in the inaccessible areas. On 6 October, WFP sent a relief aid convoy of 32
trucks to Malanje, where the number of new IDPs has risen to 52,488.
Following the lifting of the suspension of MONUA escorts, an inter-agency
assessment mission was carried out to Ukuma, Huambo Province on 30
September. The mission confirmed the deplorable living conditions among
both the residents and the IDPs in the area. Ukuma, which is presently
hosting approximately 16,600 new IDPs, has seen its infrastructure
stretched to capacity and is facing difficulties in feeding the increased
load of inhabitants. The number of malnourished children has increased from
9 to 48 in the last month. The humanitarian organisations found it
necessary to further monitor the situation and consider the possibility of
humanitarian assistance also for the resident populations. At the end of
September, WFP, IOM, and UNICEF provided non-food items and food rations
for one month to all IDPs. Blankets and jerry cans will also be distributed
to the most vulnerable. Furthermore, the mission recommended that a
nutritional survey be carried out and that the implementation of medium to
long term community projects in agriculture, sanitation and recovery of
infrastructure be initiated. The local administration can provide land to
some of the IDPs and residents, but no seeds or farming tools are
available.
On a more positive note, the situation of seed distribution has improved in
certain areas. As the rainy season starts, the Danish Refugee Council in
Uige has received seeds for distributing to the IDPs. Also, the displaced
populations in Huila are going to be provided with seeds through the WFP.
However, there is a shortage of agricultural inputs in Huambo, Malanje and
Lunda Sul.
The number of confirmed IDPs rose significantly by the end of September.
However, it should be noted that a group of approximately 30,000 IDPs has
been displaced since July, but could not be confirmed until the assessment
mission to Ukuma and Tchinjenje was carried out.
STATUS OF THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE
BASIC FACTS
Reported number of new IDPs since January 1998 338,850
Confirmed number of new IDPs since January 1998 256,995
Number of new IDPs assisted 189,194
CONFIRMED NEW IDPs IN THE MOST AFFECTED PROVINCES
Malanje 52,488
Huambo 40,778
Huila 26,474
Bengo 26,457
Kuanza Norte 24,375
Zaire 14,285
Bie 12,373
Kuando Kubango 12,498
Uige 11,347
Moxico 10,905
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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