United Nations System
Standing Committee on Nutrition

RNIS 41, April 2003

SOUTHERN AFRICA

Angola

The humanitarian situation has remained stable over the last months. Improvements have been reported in some areas, whilst the situation is still critical in others. The delivery of food aid and humanitarian assistance are still hampered by the presence of land mines and bad road conditions, which have been made worse by the rainy season. Bengo, Huila, Kuanza Norte and Sul, Luanda Sul and Malange provinces have been the most difficult to reach (WFP, 14/02/03). New WFP interventions have been planned in Nzoji and Soqueco in Malange province (WFP, 28/02/03; WFP, 07/03/03). Reconstruction of infrastructure, de-mining, provision of basic services and reintegration of UNITA ex-soldiers are especially challenging and will be crucial components of Angolan reconstruction following a 27 year war. There is more and more concern about the commitment of the Angola government to achieve these crucial projects. The International Crisis Group recommended that some of the oil money be directed to social services and public investments, and these should be considered as part of a peace building and conflict prevention strategy (ICG, 26/02/03). It is also observed that donor commitment to Angola will be influenced by the government's fiscal transparency and governance (OCHA, 03/02/03).

Food security and nutrition situation

A vulnerability assessment concluded that the highest concentration of food insecure population were in Bie and Huambo provinces. New IDPs, vulnerable residents in new accessible areas, returnees, and UNITA demobilised soldiers and their families are considered the most vulnerable (OCHA, 19/02/03). Seeds and tools were distributed during the planting season to some 600,000 families. However, tens of thousands of families did not receive sufficient seeds and tools, especially in Bengo, Benguela, Cunene, Huila, Kuando Kubango, Kwanza Sul, Moxico and Uige provinces (OCHA, 19/02/03).

The attempt to relocate UNITA soldiers and their families from the Quartering and Family Areas where they are settled, to their areas of origin before the planting season (November-December) has failed. Different factors have delayed the process: the number of ex-UNITA soldiers had been under-estimated; there have been delays in distribution of resettlement packages (tools and basic non-food items), and rainy season has hampered transportation. It is now expected that the majority of ex-UNITA soldiers and family will not be able to plant before the next planting season in 2003 and will therefore be dependent on food aid for several more months.

The fate of often very young girls who were abducted by UNITA soldiers and are now considered as UNITA soldiers family members has raised concern (RI, 07/03/03). No direct assistance has been planned for them, although they have suffered from their abduction and living conditions and may wish to reintegrate into their families. Refugee International calls for special attention to them.

Kuando Kubango province

Cuito Kuanavale municipality

ACH-S conducted a nutrition survey in Cuito Kuanavale municipality (including the town, rural areas, and IDP camps) in November 2002. Among the families surveyed, 32% were displaced, of whom 23% arrived less than one year ago. The survey revealed that the situation is undercontrol: 6.7% of the 6-59 month olds were acutely malnourished, including 2.3% severely malnourished. The nutritional situation has remained undercontrol now over the past several years (see RNIS 38, 34). The food distribution coverage was very poor the month prior to the survey: only 8.6% of the recently displaced population (displaced less than one year) received food aid, whilst the other IDPs received no food. The measles vaccination coverage was 82% according to vaccination cards and mothers' statement, and was better than in the previous surveys (64% in May 2002 and 61% in June 2001).

Huila province

Caconda municipality

A nutrition survey was carried out by ACH-S in Caconda municipality in December 2002. The municipality has received a large number of IDPs over the last few years. Among the families surveyed, 60% were displaced (of whom 60% were displaced for more than one year), 38 % were resident families and 2% were returnees.

The survey results showed an average nutrition situation, which has greatly improved since the beginning of 2002 (see graph).

Acute malnutrition, Caconda municipality, Angola

Under-five mortality rate has also decreased over the past months but was still high (see graph). In addition, admissions to TFC have decreased since May 2002.

The measles vaccination coverage was 52.1 % according to cards and 71.3% according to cards and mothers' statement. About 80% of the households which had been displaced for more than one year, as well as 78% of the families which were displaced for less than one year, received food distribution the month prior to the survey. On the other hand, only 15% of the returnees received food distribution. The improvement of the nutrition situation may be attributed to the wide coverage of WFP distributions and better food availability in markets.

Trend in admission to therapeutic feeding centres

The number of therapeutic feeding centres decreased over the second semester of 2002 from 24 in August to 10 in December. The number of admissions to TFC has also decreased; in December 2002, the number of admissions was the lowest recorded since September 1999 (see graph). In December 2002, the highest numbers of admissions (around 350) were recorded in Benguela and Huambo provinces. The situation in the central area of Benguela seemed especially unstable.

Admissions to therapeutic feeding centres, Angola (MOH/UNICEF Angola, 03/03)

Overall

The situation remained stable over the past few months (category II/III), and has greatly improved since mid-2002. The coming crops and dry season will probably also contribute to the improvement of the situation. Humanitarian aid and development programmes are however still fundamental to improving the living conditions of the population.

Recommendations and priorities

From the ACH-S survey in Kuito Kuanavale, Kuando Kubango:

• Improve the coverage of the food distribution for the IDPs
• Implement food security programmes
• Implement nutritional surveillance through the health system

From the ACH-S survey in Caconda, Huila:

• Support government and local NGOs in assisting vulnerable population
• Reactivate health posts
• Continue food distribution, at least until the next harvest

Zambia

Zambia hosts about 250,000 refugees, mainly from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Little nutritional data is available for these populations. However, nutrition surveys have been undertaken by UNHCR in two refugee camps, hosting mainly refugees from DRC (Kala and Mwange) and in one refugee camp hosting mainly refugees from Angola (Ukwimi), in October 2002 (UNHCR, 10/02).

The results showed an acceptable nutrition situation, although some oedematous children were found (see table).

Acute malnutrition in three refugee camps, Zambia, October 2002 (UNHCR, 12/02)

¹ Children with oedema are included

The nutritional status of the refugee population seems in the same range as that of the resident population, according to survey results received by RNIS (the results are not reported in this issue since the full reports have not been made available to RNIS).

Overall

The nutrition situation is acceptable in Kala, Mwange and Ukwimi camps (category IV), although children who had oedema require further investigation and attention.