WFP warns on growing crisis

WFP has said reports of rising malnutrition among more than half a million displaced people in Angola were becoming a cause of “extreme concern” as more and more people flee fighting between the government and UNITA rebels. Brenda Barton, WFP’s regional information officer, told IRIN that the costs of providing relief would increase considerably because insecurity on the country’s roads meant that 80 to 90 percent of aid could only be delivered by air. Her remarks followed a warning by WFP this week that it feared the situation could start to spiral out of control in the months ahead should fighting not abate. “The next few months are looking very grim,” said Francesco Strippoli, WFP’s representative in Angola and the head of the UN Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH). “In fact, if the fighting continues and intensifies we could be looking at a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe.” Several provinces are now reporting severe cases of malnutrition among children with many falling prey to disease, and incidences of malaria and TB on the rise. Escalating war throughout Angola has meant that many of WFP’s traditional partners were operating with skeleton crews or had left troubled areas. This month WFP said it hoped to deliver a total of 9,500 mt of food throughout Angola, most of it aboard two cargo aircraft which fly to eight central destinations on a daily basis. “Extreme insecurity on Angolan roads has forced WFP to airlift over 90 per cent of its food as opposed to 20 per cent six months ago,” the report said.