Over half a million IDP returns in five months

About 570,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have resettled or returned to their areas of origin in Angola over the past five months, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest situation report. However, only 10 percent of these returns have occurred under an organised plan. "The overwhelming majority of IDPs are returning without any form of assistance from local authorities or humanitarian organisations ... Most humanitarian organisations are operating at full capacity in the provinces where movements are concentrated and are unable to extend basic services into return sites unless funding is urgently received," OCHA said. The organisation noted that the pace of return had increased significantly since early September, reaching an average of 10,000 IDPs per day at mid-month. "The provinces with the highest number of return movements include Bengo, Bié, Huambo and Malanje. If current trends continue, the number of persons returned or resettled since the cessation of hostilities may reach 700,000 - 750,000 by the end of the year. In addition, more than 400,000 ex-combatants and their family members may begin to move around the country when gathering areas are closed," OCHA added. It is estimated that about 430,000 former rebel soldiers and their relatives are camped in 24 gathering areas, formerly quartering and family reception areas, and their seven satellites. They continue to receive assistance from more than 70 humanitarian organisations who complement government activities through food assistance, basic health care and nutrition programmes, vaccination campaigns, education activities, non-food item distributions, and protection and emergency water interventions. "Humanitarian partners are concerned that closure of the gathering areas in coming weeks may create large population movements and that basic conditions are not yet in place in many areas where these populations may return," OCHA warned. Since June, when OCHA's Quartering Emergency Response Fund (QERF) was established, 13 projects totalling US $1.2 million have been approved for nine NGOs working in family reception areas in Bengo, Benguela, Huambo, Huíla, Kuanza Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Uíge and Zaire provinces. However, the "QERF is now depleted and additional funding is urgently required to ensure full implementation of priority programmes". Full report