Aid agencies co-ordinate work in Camacupa

UN agencies, the Angolan government and non-governmental organisations have launched an urgent campaign to provide aid to thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking refuge in Camacupa town in Bie Province, OCHA said in its latest situation report released on Friday.

While a lack of security continued to limit a full humanitarian response by international agencies, large numbers of IDPs - fleeing danger and hunger in the Camacupa and Cuemba municipalities - were still streaming into Camacupa, the report said. It added that while humanitarian partners estimated there were about 30,000 IDPs in the Camacupa municipality, local sources believed that as many as 200,000 people may be inaccessible to humanitarian partners in the Cuemba municipality and other areas. “Many of these populations are on the Cuemba side of the Kuanza river, unable to cross and seek assistance in Camacupa due to high water levels and weakness,” the report said.

Malnutrition rates described by OCHA as “catastrophic” and high mortality rates have caused humanitarian agencies great concern in recent weeks, with local reports indicating that at about six children a day were dying in Camacupa. The OCHA report said that in an effort to develop a realistic plan of action, a joint security and rapid needs assessment was conducted by a number of agencies operating in the area on 5-6 May. “The team visited IDP sites and transit centres in Camacupa town and surrounding areas. A small sub-team was also able to reach the Kuanza camp, located 18 km northeast of Camacupa, and the Cuemba camp, located 12 km east of Camacupa. Of the sites visited, the worst conditions were found in Cuemba camp, where virtually all people were in critical condition, and in Kuanza, where the sub-team found serious health problems, including multiple cases of fevers, tuberculosis and bloody diarrhoea,” OCHA said.

Based on the assessment, the team drafted a plan for the Camacupa and Cuemba municipalities outlining action that needed to be taken to reduce malnutrition, morbidity and mortality. According to the report, the plan focuses on food security, water and sanitation, health and nutrition, shelter, non-food items, and protection. In addition, the plan recommends government action needed to improve security and access to at-risk populations. According to OCHA, parts of the plan are already being implemented in areas accessible to aid agencies.