UN Inter Agency Mission visits Angola to look into the problems of internally displaced persons

Geneva, 20 March 2001 - A UN-led inter-agency Mission visited Angola from March 12-17, 2001, to look into the problems of internally displaced persons.
The Mission was part of the on-going work of the Senior Inter Agency Network on Internal Displacement, created in September 2000 by the UN Inter Agency Standing Committee, to review critical situations of internal displacement and make proposals for an improved response to their needs.

The mission, led by Dennis McNamara, the UN Special Coordinator on Internal Displacement, was composed of representatives from FAO, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, the office of the Representative of the Secretary General on Internally Displaced Persons, and an NGO consortium.

The main objectives of the Mission were to assess the needs of displaced populations, review the capacity of UN Agencies and other humanitarian actors to respond to these needs, identify gaps in humanitarian response and make recommendations for future action. The Mission also assessed the extent of implementation of the recommendations of Dr. Francis Deng, the Representative of the Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons, following his visit to Angola in November 2001.

In Angola, the Mission met with senior Government officials and with representatives of United Nations, international organisations and non-governmental organisations as well as members of the diplomatic community. The Mission travelled to the Province of Bié and Huambo and visited Viana in Luanda, to observe the situation of displaced populations in Angola.

Angola's civil war continues, characterised by guerrilla warfare with catastrophic consequences for the civilian population. According to Government figures there are 3.8 million IDPs in Angola today. Significant displacement continues: in the province of Bié alone over 50.000 people have been displaced in the last four months. Over 1 million people continue to rely on international food aid. It is estimated that 50% of displaced populations do not have access to adequate agricultural land while less than 30% of the population have access to basic health services. The situation of children is dramatic: nearly one out of every three children dies before the age of five. Less than half of all children attend school, often on a limited basis.

"In Angola over 25 years of conflict have compounded one of the worst humanitarian problems in Africa, with the problem of internal displacement on top of the lack of basic social services in all sectors." said Dennis McNamara.

While recognising the efforts undertaken by the Government and the humanitarian community to address the needs of the displaced, these vulnerable populations continue to live in dire conditions with many of them inaccessible due to the on-going insecurity and therefore receiving no humanitarian assistance and protection. The Mission urged that all possibilities to gain humanitarian access to displaced and other vulnerable populations, particularly children, be explored.

The Mission received allegations of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including forced relocation, targeting of civilians in the conflict, forced conscription, looting of humanitarian supplies and sexual violence, perpetrated by armed actors against IDPs. The Mission reiterated the primary responsibility of the Government in ensuring the protection of displaced populations. It also underscored the need for the international community to strengthen its efforts in this area, including by the UN, NGOs and others.

The Mission expressed its support for the policy of temporary resettlement of displaced populations from makeshift camps or transit centre and welcomed the introduction into national law of "Norms for the Resettlement of displaced populations" aiming to ensure that resettlement is voluntary and that fundamental conditions such as the security of the sites, access to basic services, such as health and education, and safe and adequate land allocation, are guaranteed.

The issue of land tenure for the displaced remains critical. The Mission encouraged the Government to ensure that the land law, currently being drafted, provides for safe and secure land tenure for displaced populations.

The 2000 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Angola was only 53% funded, limiting the capacity of UN agencies to respond to the needs of the IDPs. The Mission expressed concern over the slow pace of funding for the 2001 Appeal and urged the donor community to strengthen their support for humanitarian efforts to assist displaced populations while continuing to support complementary longer term initiatives promoting self sufficiency.

The report of the Mission also covers, among others, issues relating to coordination, landmines, HIV-Aids, food aid and agriculture and education. For more information please contact the office of the Special Coordinator on Internal Displacement, tel. 41 22 917 3111, fax. 41 22 917 0020, villalon@un.org