Internally displaced people increase

The number of internally displaced people (IDP) in Angola has risen dramatically to 650,000 since fighting resumed in earnest in November. Franceso Strippolli, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Angola, told journalists in Geneva on Friday that the numbers of IDP’s before Novermber had reached 350,000, but that this had increased to 650,000 since the rebel UNITA movement intensified its attacks on government-held territories. Strippolli said every battle raised the possibility of an increase in the numbers of IDPs as people sought refuge in the main cities away from the war. Most of the IDPs are also malnourished and suffer from diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and diarrhoea. Strippolli added that the most affected areas are Malanje, Huambo and Kuito where UNITA has besieged the cities.