Angola
Angolan peace makes hunger visible

afrol News, 9 May - The discovery of thousands of severely malnourished Angolans is difficult to classify as good or bad news. Their war-related suffering has gone on for years, but only now, as fighting has ceased and isolated areas are opened, their fate is known. This has however led to immediate relief actions.

- We are finding people suffering extreme hunger and malnutrition in the interior of the country, said Ronald Sibanda, the Country Director of the World Food Program (WFP) for Angola. "WFP is already making arrangements to start feeding programmes in new areas," he added.

The plight of thousands of severely malnourished Angolans surfaced only after an accord between the Angolan government and UNITA rebels paved the way for humanitarian agencies to gain greater access to remote parts of the country. The peaceful situation also creates a new set of challenges, as large streams of internally displaced people are returning to their areas of origin; in many cases heavily mined locations. 

Despite the cease-fire agreement, also new population displacements continue to be observed in various provinces, WFP says. It is generally believed that a number of the newly displaced people are leaving their homes to seek humanitarian assistance in other areas. Heavy rainfalls are also hampering food deliveries. 

Last week, however, WFP managed to truck food aid along 130 kilometres of precarious roads from Huambo to the remote village of Bunjei, where it said a "frantic" crowd of more than 10,000 people greeted the convoy. That was first aid to the area's people, who for the past four years have been avoiding fighting by hiding in the countryside, many dying of hunger-related diseases, the UN agency reported.

Also in Bunjei, newly arrived internally displaced people have been registered. Almost 20,000 new internally displaced were registered in Huambo province alone. The war-torn province is now in the focus of the UN agency, assisting some 45,000 vulnerable people there. 

While welcoming its expanded ability to provide emergency assistance to thousands of needy internally displaced people, WFP warned that stocks in Angola are reaching "dangerously low" levels. "We have no choice but to reduce rations for some groups of people to make sure we can feed others who are more desperate," said Mr. Sibanda. "It is absolutely vital that new donations are made urgently."

Ambassadors of a few donor countries Friday in Luanda reiterated they would do their best to assist Angola supplying food, drugs, tents and clothes, according to the government. This was announced by US ambassador to Angola, William Dell, who spoke in the name of his colleagues from France, Italy, Norway and the European Union. The ambassadors were attending a meeting with the Minister of Social Welfare, Joćo Baptista Kussumua. The issue of internally displaced persons - with some already returned to their home areas - was especially discussed.

All these preoccupations were accepted with "much good will" by Minister Kussumua. The Angolan government is working on convening two donor conferences in the country with the help of the UN. Also the WFP, which needs US$ 52 million for the next six months, calls for enhanced donations.

Sources: Based on WFP, Angolan govt. and afrol archives

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