Security Council seized of situation

The UN Security Council this week demanded that UNITA, the Angolan rebel movement of Jonas Savimbi, comply immediately and unconditionally with obligations under the 1994 Lusaka Protocol peace accords to demilitarise and allow the extension of the government's administration to areas under their control. In a statement released after the council's meeting by its president, Martin Andjaba, the Security Council said: "The Council expressed deep concern at the deteriorating political, military and humanitarian situation in Angola. It also expressed concern at the critical condition of internally displaced persons suffering from lack of food, medicines, shelter, arable land and other necessities. It further expressed grave concern at the number of malnourished children and at the outbreak of diseases such as polio and meningitis." The Security Council's resolution follows impassioned pleas by Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN's Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator to the Council to step up international support for humanitarian operations in the war-torn country and to devise fresh initiatives to help end nearly three decades of civil war which has left hundreds of thousands trapped behind battle lines. Vieira de Mello, Catherine Bertini, the Executive Director of the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)Executive Director Carol Bellamy, all cited growing malnutrition, a high risk of epidemic diseases in overcrowded provincial capitals, a lack of sanitation due to a lack of safe drinking water and the generally weakened state of the population. Noting the insufficient level of contributions to the UN's 1999 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Angola, the council also called on the international donor community to contribute generously, financially and in kind to the humanitarian appeal to enable the agencies to effectively address the plight of internally displaced persons. The council's statement continued: "The Security Council expresses its concern that the continuing conflict and lack of access jeopardises the ability of the agencies to continue to deliver assistance to those in need. The Council urges the government of Angola and particularly UNITA to provide access to all internally displaced persons in Angola, and to facilitate the mechanisms necessary for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all populations in need throughout the country. "The Council urges both parties, particularly UNITA, to guarantee the safety and security and freedom of movement of humanitarian personnel, including United Nations and associated personnel, providing assistance to internally displaced persons. The Council strongly urges respect for the principle of neutrality and impartiality in the delivery of assistance." The three senior UN officials had also told the Council that according to the Angolan government figures, about 200 people were now dying daily in the country as a result of malnutrition related diseases. The Council did not, however, pronounce on Vieira de Mello's suggestion of a deadline for progress in Angola.