IDP mission begins

A delegation of the UN Inter-Agency Network on Internal Displacement is to begin a field visit to Angola on Monday aimed at assessing the nature and magnitude of the assistance and protection needs of internally displaced persons, an OCHA statement received by IRIN on Friday said.

The mission, led by the UN Special Coordinator on Internal Displacement, Dennis McNamara, and composed of senior officials from WFP, FAO, UNHCR, UNICEF, OCHA, the Office of the Representative of the Secretary General on IDPs and an NGO representative will review existing institutional arrangements and directly address issues that may affect the international response to the needs of IDPs, the statement said.

From 12-17 March, the mission will meet with key government officials and representatives of UN agencies, the donor community, international organisations and national and international NGOs operating in the country. The mission will also undertake field visits to assess the situation of IDPs and will make recommendations to concerned parties for future action. "This mission is part of increased efforts by concerned humanitarian partners and governments to bring about concrete improvements in the delivery of assistance and protection to internally displaced persons whose numbers now exceed the worldwide global refugee population," the OCHA statement said.