Landmines and poor roads hamper aid efforts

The World Food Programme (WFP) has had to suspend operations in two of Angola's southern provinces because of ongoing security and logistical constraints. The UN food agency said in its latest report that although it had been able to assist an increased number of people in most provinces, landmines and poor infrastructure continued to hamper relief efforts. "Due to the suspected presence of landmines, WFP was forced to suspend its missions and planned operations in the Huila and Cunene provinces. Furthermore, access to Mussende municipality in the Kuanza Sul province, where the nutritional situation is considered critical, has not been possible due to a broken bridge," WFP said. Angola is one of most heavily mined countries in the world, estimates for the number of landmines range from six to 20 million, resulting in one of the highest rates of landmine injuries per capita in the world. The report also highlighted the sharp increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were spontaneously returning to their places of origin. "Voluntary returns of IDPs have been observed in Luanda and in most of the provincial cities, including Benguela and Camacupa," WFP noted. The humanitarian agency has also had to make provisions for thousands of Angolans who continue to trickle back home from neighbouring countries. In Moxico province, the number of refugees returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia had increased significantly. Some returnees are said to have moved directly to their areas of origin, mostly Camonongue and Luau, WFP said. Last month the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that nearly 8,000 Angolans had returned from the DRC since the beginning of the year and at least another 4,500 had returned from Zambia. However, the agency said it was difficult to assess the actual number of spontaneous returns since many returnees had failed to report to the UNHCR. Meanwhile, scores of new IDPs continue to arrive at camps throughout the country. Last week close to 700 IDPs arrived in a critical condition in Wacu-Kungo municipality in the Kuanza Sul province. The number of new IDPs in Wacu-Kungo now stands at 14,650, WFP said. The agency said it had concluded a second relief food distribution in five Family Reception Areas, where relatives of UNITA soldiers are being accomodated as part of the demobilisation process, in Benguela province. Of the 2,150 children assisted in the towns of Benguela and Lobito, 45 were found to be malnourished. These children had been referred to the existing therapeutic feeding programmes in the two municipalities.