ANGOLA: Humanitarian situation worsens

The deterioration in the security situation in Angola since the end of March has increased the number of newly displaced people (IDPs) to 780,000, bringing the total number of IDPs in the war-torn country to 1.5 million. According to a report by the UN Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH), the number of ambushes, land mine incidents and attacks on civilian convoys and vehicles has significantly increased. "These incidents have resulted in a number of deaths, injuries, looting and destruction of property," the report said. Almost all roads throughout the country are now considered insecure and dangerous. Access to the city of Kuito remains cut, while Malanje is accessible only by road but at great risk of being attacked, the report stated. Uige province in the north has seen an intensification of military activity, especially in the northeast of the province. In Moxico province, clashes between the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and UNITA rebels has led to a new influx of IDPs into Luena, the provincial capital, bringing the number to more than 5,000. The report estimates the number of daily IDPs arriving in Luena to be about 600 people. In Kuito, the capital of Bie province, food assistance is restricted to the most vulnerable due to limited stocks in the town as circumstances do not allow re-supply. Huambo, according to the report, also faces serious food shortages. The report stated that in the southern province of Huila, the IDP population in Caconda and Caluquembe has increased to 30,000 while in Quipungo the IDP population is estimated at 39,498. Attacks and looting on small villages in Bengo province have increased over the last two weeks, forcing an estimated 600 new IDPs to flee to Calomboloca, some 70 km east of the capital, Luanda. Kuanza Norte province has also reported a total of about 900 families who have fled from the towns of Gonguembo, Banga and Bula Atumba in the Bengo province and from Calulo in Kwanza Sul province. The report stated that the arrivals from Kwanza Sul showed signs of malnutrition and are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. In the meantime, the reopening of the Negage airport in Uige in March has enabled WFP to airlift 51mt of food, the report stated. The transportation of food from Luanda to Malanje continues to be made by road since the repair of a bridge at the beginning of March, and 1,783 mt had been delivered as of 26 March. The report, however, quoted WFP as being concerned at the continuous disruptions to food distributions due to the deteriorating security situation.