Clashes leave Huambo insecure

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has denied media reports that it has suspended aid relief to the central Angolan city of Huambo.

Spokeswoman Maria Flynn told IRIN on Thursday: “We have suspended flights to the airport because it has been closed. However, we have reasonable expectations that the airport will be re-opened soon.”

Flynn said there was about 15 days worth of food stocks in WFP’s warehouses but added that “one needs to remember that people receive food rations on a monthly basis and so people who received food yesterday for example have enough rations for about a month.”

The International Confederation of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in its latest update on Angola that the “particularly violent clashes, with numerous attacks and counter-attacks have left the civilian population of Huambo feeling extremely insecure and have increased the number of displaced people.” It said that surrounding towns such as Gove, Sambo and Cuima have been totally deserted, calling it a “new regional phenomenon.”
Meanwhile, Flynn said that WFP had not been able to get into the city of Malanje for about two weeks, but had food reserves in the city. “Food has been distributed to our partners, who will then distribute the food to people.”

ICRC said Malanje had been “the victim of intermittent shelling of varying intensity,” and that the city was “under constant pressure and insecurity, particularly as food is becoming increasingly scarce.”

In Kuito the ICRC reported that displaced people have continued to arrive and although the “humanitarian consequences were not yet dramatic, this could change soon with the onset of the dry season.” It added that working conditions for humanitarian organisations had been “particularly difficult.”

The ICRC also reported a “clear deterioration” in the nutritional situation in the central highlands region: “Despite adequate harvests this year, the conflict and widespread pillaging of crops have created a serious problem.”