IRIN Focus on humanitarian situation1

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its Mid-Term Review for Angola this week that the overall situation remained “precarious”. It said that an estimated two million people continued to rely on food aid and that as many as 2.75 million people may need some kind of humanitarian assistance in the months ahead. It said that in addition to the problems caused by recent displacement, the country faced a structural emergency that was characterized by a breakdown in social services that jeopardised the health and education of vulnerable groups, particularly children. The current humanitarian situation OCHA said that at the end of June there were an estimated 2.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Angola - about 20 percent of the total population. It said that more than 217,500 people had been displaced in 14 provinces since the beginning of the year. The largest movements occurred in Bie, Kwanza Norte, Huila and Lunda Sul provinces. “In a positive development, return movements of an estimated 32,800 people have been reported in Kwanza Norte and Zaire provinces,” the agency said. Access and security OCHA said that the security situation remained “unstable” in several provinces including Kwanza Norte, Uige, Huambo, Kuito, Cuanda Cubango, Moxico and Lunda Sul. “Guerrilla activities continue, with armed rebels attacking towns and villages in several provinces. The location and timing of the attacks, which often include looting, physical assaults and destruction of crops and homes are unpredictable,” OCHA said. The review added that insecurity continued to hamper access to at risk populations, but that the extension of state administration to Maquela do Zombo, Camgandala, Cuvelai, Andula, Bailundo, Calenga, Lepi and Longonjo had give agencies access to thousands of “previously unreachable people.” “Despite increased access, almost al areas along the eastern and southern borders remain out of bounds to humanitarian agencies,” OCHA said. It said that road access remained restricted, with only coastal roads and roads within the security zones of major provincial cities useable by humanitarian agencies. “Road links between capitals remain insecure in the central and eastern parts of the country,” OCHA noted. More than 70 percent of all humanitarian assistance is currently transported by air because of restricted road routes. “Reliance on air transport creates certain difficulties however, including high delivery costs for humanitarian assistance. In addition airstrip damage in Kuito and Huambo delays deliveries, putting hundreds of thousands of people at further risk,” the review said. Food security In May WFP announced that it faced a possible breakdown in the food pipeline from the end of September unless new contributions were received. OCHA said in an effort to “minimise hardship” during the lean months of September and October, WFP has reduced by 20 percent the number of people receiving direct food aid assistance during June and July. OCHA said that as the lead food agency, the WFP had assisted on average about one million people, but lack of access and insecurity has hampered WFP from reaching its full caseload. “Despite large-scale distributions, food security remains precarious for close to two million at risk people,” OCHA said. The review added that although the nutrition situation was “stable” in many areas, malnutrition rates were increasing in several camps including Sangando in Luena, the capital of Moxico Province in the east. Non-governmental organisation (NGOs) had reported a malnutrition rate of about 30 percent in the camp. In Kuito, in the central Bie Province, the number of children attending supplementary feeding centres was rising. “June reports also indicate that malnutrition rates are increasing in municipalities around Huambo, including the transit centres in Caal, where approximately 15,000 people continue to live in appalling conditions,” OCHA noted. It said that in partnership with the government a nation-wide campaign to distribute agricultural inputs was due to start in September and October. The campaign is part of the government’s efforts to promote “agricultural self-sufficiency”. Health “Health remains the most under-funded sector in the humanitarian programme,” OCHA said. “Urgent support is required in this sector as part of the effort to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.” OCHA said that hospitals and health posts are under-staffed, under-funded and in need of basic equipment. Malaria, diarrhoea and tuberculosis remain prevalent throughout the country. “In many locations children have not been vaccinated against life threatening diseases. Problems with birthing are common in all parts of the country and hospitals or health posts lack delivery or post delivery facilities.” The report said that in the last six months progress had been made in addressing the health and nutrition needs of war-affected populations. An inter-agency task force has been established to coordinate the provision of essential medicines and has developed a national plan to reduce malaria. An immunisation campaign against measles has also been conducted and the first of a three phase polio campaign took place in June. The campaign targets 3.8 million children under five in 164 municipalities. OCHA said that in the coming months the most important focus would be on support to mother and child health care programmes and TB, HIV/AIDS and malaria control. More details of the Mid-Term Review can be found at: http://www.reliefweb.int/library/appeals/angmt00.pdf