Town's population 'missing'

When Angolan government troops recaptured the northern town of Quibaxe from UNITA rebels at the end of February, they found that nearly 8,000 inhabitants had disappeared, news reports said this week.

The town, about 150 km northeast of Luanda, was held by UNITA from 17-23 February. Residents, and displaced people sent to the region as part of a resettlement programme, remain unaccounted for. The Lusa news agency said available information indicated that the rebels killed an undetermined number of civilians during the occupation of Quibaxe and many other people escaped into the surrounding countryside. A humanitarian source told IRIN on Wednesday that: "When UNITA attacked, the people fled into the bush. Even under government control people are still afraid to go back to the town because they fear reprisals."

Meanwhile, in the central Bie province, ongoing military activity has led to large displacements from the areas of Cambandua, Chicala, Nhareia, Camacupa and Kuninga (Belo Horizonte) into the provincial capital Kuito, aid workers said. Some 15,500 displaced families were registered from December to February. "This influx has led to a critical situation in regards to non-food items, water and sanitation and health issues. Blankets, soap, plastic sheeting, buckets and cooking kits have been sent in response to the critical needs of arriving IDPs," one source said. On 23 February a car belonging to the relief agency Africare detonated a mine approximately 12 km from Kuito. One person died in the blast.