Interview with UNDP Resident Representative Erick de Mul

In an interview with IRIN on the anniversary of Angola's peace agreement, UN Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Development Programme Resident Representative in Angola, Erick de Mul, elaborated on the some of the achievements over the course of the past year. QUESTION: How would you characterise the present humanitarian situation in Angola? ANSWER: There is still a need for humanitarian assistance, but the situation is gradually improving. The main achievement [of aid agencies] over the past year was certainly getting aid to about 900,000 people in areas that were previously cut off from aid because of the war. In some areas, because of poor infrastructure, it is still problematic and this remains one of the ongoing challenges. To complicate the current situation, the rainy season has rendered some 314,000 people inaccessible. Q: At the end of September 2002 about 80,000 former UNITA soldiers and about 260,000 family members were in demobilisation camps across Angola. What progress has been made in demobilisation, resettlement and reintegration process over the past year? A: The resettling of ex-UNITA soldiers was seen as key to the success of the peace process and it has worked better in some provinces [than in others]. In those provinces where soldiers chose to remain, the process has gone well. However, in instances where soldiers had to be transported to other provinces it has been more complicated. Q: What have been some of the drawbacks? There were concerns over the government's commitment to assisting former UNITA soldiers. A: The process of resettling ex-combatants is expected to be completed sometime between June and July. By then, hopefully, all the soldiers would have received the necessary registration documents, severance pay and the demobilisation kits. The problem right now is that when people move out of the quartering areas they are transported to the provincial capitals where they are based in transit camps. While the initial plan was for people to stay in these reception areas for a day or two, we have had to contend with logistical delays. This means that people are having to stay there for much longer under minimal conditions. This is worrisome. We are trying to adjust our assistance programmes to accommodate these shortcomings. Q: About one million people are expected to return to their areas of origin during 2003. The UN has said that since last year 1.5 million internally displaced persons [IDPs] had returned, many to locations that did not meet the pre-conditions established in the UN's "Norms on the Resettlement and Return of Displaced Populations". Are the norms being applied, and what kind of assistance have people received? A: About 30 percent of those who have returned have received some kind of assistance. In some cases, families at IDP centres hold onto their food ration cards and send their children back to their villages to assess the situation on the ground. This secures them a lifeline which seems to work. But overall, the norms have not been implemented. Q: The norms also make provision for the protection of returnees. There were fears of social tensions between returnees and the local population. Has this happened? A: There have been isolated incidents between returning UNITA soldiers and the local community in certain parts of the country but these were incidental. For returning IDPs there really isn't an issue of them encountering resentment when they return because in most cases they go back to villages where there is very little, so there is no need for tension or competition for resources. [The norms, officially adopted by the government in 2002 emphasise that designated resettlement areas must be free of land mines. They also note that state administration must be extended to resettlement or return sites, and health and education personnel supported by the relevant government ministries.] Q: The return of more than 400,000 refugees in neighbouring countries is likely to increase after April when the rains end. A recent meeting between the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the governments of Angola and Zambia highlighted concerns over landmines and food insecurity. Are the authorities prepared for the influx of returning refugees? A: The ground is being prepared and several meetings to facilitate this process have been held in Zambia, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. By mid-June we could see refugees returning. The threat of landmines is a general threat and not just to refugees returning. The government and NGOs have received additional funding to support existing programmes. With regards to food, UNHCR has been working very closely with the World Food Programme to assess the needs of this group. There are ideas to do some basic screening of returning refugees. Of chief concern is the health of the refugees, especially concerning their HIV status since they are returning from countries with high HIV prevalence rates. Ironically, since many of the refugees were not really integrated into their host countries, preliminary findings indicate that the HIV infection rate among refugees does not reflect the broader picture in their host countries. Q: Given the ongoing challenges facing the humanitarian community, how has the donor response been? Do you expect the war in Iraq to distract donors from the current situation in Angola? A: Well, we have received about 16 percent of the US $384 million we appealed for at the end of last year. We have also made it very clear to the Angolan government and donors that this would be the last consolidated appeal for Angola. We believe the amount requested would be sufficient to move away from providing people with emergency assistance and towards supporting developmental projects. As people move back to the countryside, there will be greater emphasis on agricultural self - sufficiency. We are constantly in contact with donors and so far Angola is still on the agenda despite the needs in Iraq. We have not seen a waning of interest. Q: Has a date been set for the donor conference? A: The lead-up time is much longer than some people would have wished for or expected. Firstly, I think not only donors would like to see an acceptable poverty reduction strategy from the government but the people of Angola. This has not yet materialised. Secondly, the relationship between the Angolan government and the IMF [International Monetary Fund] needs to improve. Donors will feel a lot more comfortable if this relationship is mended. Also, donors do expect the government to increasingly assume greater financial responsibility for humanitarian programmes in 2003.