§ 26. John RobertsonWhat assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Angola. [84712]
340WThe humanitarian situation in Angola remains serious. Since the ceasefire, already over-stretched aid agencies have been able to access several thousand more severely malnourished people. The 2003 UN CAP states that 4.3 million Angolans depend on some form of humanitarian assistance and the WFP has raised its caseload figure of people requiring assistance to 1.9 million. However, humanitarian agencies are still unable to reach 200,000 people and 40 per cent. of the countryside due to damaged infrastructure, inadequate road networks and mine infestation. Up to one million people may be cut-off during the upcoming seasonal rains.
This year, my Department has provided almost £8 million in humanitarian support. This includes £2 million to the International Committee for the Red Cross and Medicins Sans Frontieres, £300,000 to the United Nations Development Programme for demining, £250,000 to assist the International Organization for Migration with the resettlement of internally displaced people (IDPs), and over £2.5 million to the World Food Programme (WFP).