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“Experience has shown that once crises erupt, the international community can move swiftly to address the suffering of innocent civilian victims. The United Nations and its humanitarian partners -donors, non-governmental organizations, the Red Cross Community - have raised billions of dollars to deliver food to the hungry, provide shelter to refugees and internally displaced persons, and support children, women and the elderly. This has been accomplished despite the major constraints that often accompany deadly conflicts: difficulty in reaching populations in need, a lack of security for relief personnel and disregard for fundamental principles of humanitarian law and human rights.” Kofi Annan, Message to the United Nations High Commissioner
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Repeatedly in 1994 and 1995, encircling troops cut off Angolan cities from aid for months at a time. Landmines and widespread destruction of the road system hindered deliveries to cities and rural areas. However, once regular delivery of a general ration was possible, levels of wasting came down quickly. Figure 2 shows the decline in levels of wasting among children in Malange, Angola, during a period of stability following restored access in January 1993.
In Upper Bong Liberia, levels of wasting declined markedly when improved security allowed continual access to populations in need of assistance (figure 3).
In Kahindo camp for Rwandan refugees in Eastern Zaire, levels of wasting were rapidly brought under control once clean water supplies and food distribution systems were in place (figure 4).
Figure 2: Change in malnutrition over time in Malange, Angola
Figure 3: Change in malnutrition over time in Upper Bong, Liberia
Figure 4: Change in malnutrition over time in Kahindo Camp, Goma, Zaire
