ICRC visits detainees near Lobito

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited 19 detainees at the Catumbela military base near Lobito on 15 February as part of its ongoing programme to ensure that those captured in the ongoing conflict between Angolan security forces and UNITA are treated properly. The ICRC said in a statement on Thursday that the detainees comprised of civilians and fighters captured during clashes, and a number of people who had voluntarily surrendered to the authorities. "The delegates were able to hold private interviews with the detainees so as to assess their treatment and conditions of detention. The ICRC's standard visiting procedures were respected by the detaining authorities, who were very coopertive. Some hygiene articles will be distributed in the near future," the ICRC said. It added that Angolans fleeing the fighting at home continued to stream across the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Namibia. "The exchange of Red Cross messages - which are often the only means of communication available to dispersed families - has thus considerably increased in recent months. More messages have also been exchanged between Congolese refugees in Angola and their families back home," said ICRC.