Strong response needed to humanitarian crisis - Morris

As Angola inches towards almost a year of peace, conditions in the country remain extremely difficult with millions of people still facing uncertain food supplies, no schools and a poor infrastructure, executive director of the World Food Programme, (WFP) James Morris said on Friday. In a statement released during a visit to the war-torn country, Morris expressed concern about humanitarian conditions in Angola where an estimated 2.4 million people are expected to need food aid up to the April/May 2003 harvest. He said Angola needed immediate and strong participation from many players to respond to the mounting humanitarian needs in the country and urged the government, the private commercial sector and international donors, to support WFP projects aimed at alleviating the suffering of millions of Angolans. "WFP can do a tremendous amount to help the Angolan population get back on their feet after decades of despair, and we must seize this opportunity," said Morris, who is also the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa. "What's needed is a constellation of committed partners, including our traditional donors, working together to tackle the immense tasks which lie ahead to assist millions of vulnerable people," he noted. During his first visit to Angola after being appointed WFP Executive Director in 2002, Morris met with President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, various government ministers and the UN heads of agencies. He hosted a meeting with a number of top executives representing major companies operating in Angola to discuss possibilities for future cooperation in the food aid and recovery effort. WFP is currently supplying food aid to 1.74 million people in Angola but deliveries are hampered by broken bridges, poorly maintained roads, and the widespread presence of landmines. The Human Development Index ranks Angola 161 out of 173 countries. This includes internally displaced persons (IDPs) and about 80,000 former UNITA troops and over 300,000 family members in 42 reception centres across the country. However, WFP has only less than half of the necessary resources to keep its operations afloat through 2003. Food stocks are low and unless further donations are rapidly pledged, a disruption in distributions could occur by the end of April, the statement warned. Morris said Angola was not immune to the lethal combination of HIV/AIDS and food shortages and warned against the devastation caused by the disease. He expressed concern that many children would not be able to attend school as the new academic year starts. "Educating children and fighting HIV/AIDS are crucial to helping consolidate the long-awaited peace process, and building a better tomorrow for millions of people," said Morris. "We continue to be deeply committed to the poor and hungry in Angola, but need immense support by a variety of partners in order to succeed." On Saturday Morris will travel to the central Province of Bié, where WFP food aid presently benefits 280,000 IDPs. He will also visit people in the hard-hit area of Kuito, a city devastated by 27 years of war. He has already visited Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Malawi and South Africa, accompanied by Stephen Lewis, the special envoy for HIV/AIDS and a delegation of government ministers, Southern African Development Community representatives, and humanitarian workers.