68 percent of Angolans live below the poverty line. Only 66 percent of the population in urban areas and 38 percent in rural regions have access to safe water supplies. Angola ranks 161 (out of 177) in the 2006 Human Development Index.

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CERF allocates US$ 3.2 million to control the outbreak of cholera in Angola

5 March 2007: Angola was hit by a nationwide cholera epidemic in 2006, with 71,123 cases and 2,814 casualties registered (as of 30 January 2007). For the period of 1 January to 20 February 2007, reports totaled 7,175 cases, including 240 deaths, in 16 of the 18 provinces. Heavy rainfall leading to flash floods in central and coastal areas brought waste material and garbage to the affected areas, especially to markets serving people from various localities across the country, thus contributing to the spread and persistence of the epidemic. The meteorological services forecast more rain until the end of May, particularly in the interior regions. The resulting flash floods will move towards the coast, displacing settlements and spreading waterborne diseases.

With an allocation from the CERF, the World Health Organization (WHO) is jump-starting a programme to support an estimated 2.2 million vulnerable individuals living in high-risk areas in 16 provinces where access to adequate health care, safe water and proper sanitation is limited. Enhanced cholera surveillance, constitution of an emergency stock of drugs, ensured provision of safe water at health care centers, improved water quality testing, strengthened information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns in food safety, monitored status of adequate sanitation facilities are among the activities the programme is covering.

A CERF grant is made available to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to reduce cholera mortality with an estimated 4 million people benefiting directly from the various activities of the programme. With its partners, the agency is treating water at the point of source, ensuring clean water supply to 1.7 million individuals in large urban settlements for 3 months. In addition, the project ensures home level supplies in order to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and materials for 324,000 individuals in cholera-affected areas. Another aim is to strengthen social mobilization activities to reach more than 4 million people by distributing targeted information, education and communication (IEC) materials and supplies essential to maintain safe water and sanitation in the homes of the affected areas. The programme is also providing emergency treatment supplies to respond to the estimated 67,255 patients in Cholera Treatment Centers (CTC).

CERF allocates $4.5 million under its underfunded grants window

8 March 2007: Even though the conflict in Angola ended with the signing of the Luena Peace Accord in 2002 nearly three decades after it had begun, the civil war still shows a profound impact on all aspects of social and economic life in Angola. Large slums exist in and around urban centers, putting considerable pressure on housing and making access to basic social services difficult. The high level of urban unemployment, especially among women and young adults, constitute a huge obstacle to stabilize the situation. Since logistical constraints remain in rural areas, the socio-economic recovery and the free movement of goods and civilians are hampered.

Up until 2004, the United Nations Consolidated Appeal generated enough funds to cover relief operations. But as Angola is perceived more and more as a country in transition, the international community started to convert its humanitarian support in funds for mid- or long-term development programmes. As a result, some of the humanitarian sectors have either been poorly funded by international donors or poorly assisted by the Angolan government. Water, nutrition and health projects take priority, especially among returnees who constitute the most vulnerable population. If needs are not met, illnesses such as cholera, malaria and diarrhea will spread, and the mortality and malnutrition rates will increase.

Heavy rains since mid-December 2006 have led to floodings in a number of areas. The worst affected districts, so far, is Cazombo with more than 17,000 victims. More rainfall is forecast for April and May. In addition, Cazombo is difficult to access due to its geographical location. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the only agency that has maintained a presence in the region. With a CERF grant of USD 306,000, the IOM will supply shelter material and non-food items (NFI) to some 8,000 flood-affected returnees in receiving communities. NFI include blankets, clothes, sets for children, kitchen and cleaning kits. To ensure an efficient and timely distribution of these items IOM is establishing a logistics system providing transportation, storage, communication and coordination support.

Nearly 400,000 refugees have returned to Angola from neighboring countries since 2002. An estimated 65% of the overall population has no access to basic potable water systems and 75% lack basic sanitation. The situation is even worse in Moxico, the main area of returnees and also one of the most isolated and conflict-affected region. A CERF allocation of USD 710,000 is made available to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to reduce the mortality rate caused by water-borne diseases such as malaria, cholera, and diarrhea. UNHCR and its partners are building 12 new water points and rehabilitating three that have not been operational. In addition, they are constructing 540 latrines and 540 rubbish pits. The agency is also supplying tools and materials to 17 community and sanitation groups (GAS) as well as to a local non-governmental organization (NGO) and the Provincial Water Authority (DPEA) to ensure the sustainability of the programme.

Two thirds of the residents in the urban and peri-urban areas of Luanda, Angola’s capital, rely on water sold from trucks. Unfortunately, these supplies are mostly unsafe, leading to life-threatening diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will use its CERF grant of USD 500,000 to provide 39,500 families (or 197,500 individuals) in the three worst affected municipalities of Luanda province with two months of life-saving home level supplies such as jerry cans, water dispensers, bars of soap and water purification tablets.

A survey conducted in 2004/2005 by the World Food Programme (WFP) indicated that the Planalto (central highlands) is the most food-insecure and vulnerable region in Angola, followed by the slums around the capital Luanda and Moxico province. As the WFP strategy for the triennal programme 2006-2009 had received less than 23% of the necessary funding by February 2007, the agency had to concentrate on key interventions in the Planalto with the distribution of the residual food tonnages. The CERF allocation of almost USD 2.2 million supports WFP’s efforts to provide nutritional and other medical programmes from May to December 2007 to a monthly average of 29,000 beneficiaries. The agency is supplying food as a nutrition complement for in-hospital patients, mainly children under five years of age, and other patients seeking health care in selected health centers.

Angola was hit by a nationwide cholera epidemic in 2006, with 71,123 cases and 2,814 casualties registered (as of 30 January 2007). Because funds were lacking, control was only partially achieved. As a result, malaria cases increased, too. Things started to worsen in January 2007 when heavy rains occurred, accompanied by floodings. As of February, all 18 provinces are affected. With a CERF allocation of some USD 717,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) is trying to minimize the risk of cyclical cholera outbreaks of large dimension. The programmes proposed by WHO and its partners target an estimated 2.2 million vulnerable people living in high risk areas of 16 provinces with limited access to proper health care as well as safe water and proper sanitation. The activities include an enhanced cholera surveillance, the support of the training of provincial and district health teams in cholera epidemic preparedness and response, an improved capacity of the ministry of health’s stocks and logistics management, the ensured provision of safe water at health care facilities, better water quality testing and promotion of home treatment of drinking water.

Nine-month-old Aurelio Clemente recovering from meningitis and malaria at the specialized malaria care centre in Kuito, in the Bie province [Photo: IRIN]

USD 107,000 CERF funding is made available to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen the medical and psychological assistance to some 20,000 internally displaced persons (IDP) – 12,000 women and 8,000 youth – in the health facilities of the areas where they live. The team members of the health centers are being trained to determine and treat issues of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI). UNFPA is purchasing and distributing kits of essential drugs, condoms and equipment to manage GBV and STI cases in two health care facilities. The agency is also conducting information, education and communication (IEC) and awareness-raising campaigns at the community group level.

 One third of all funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund is earmarked for use in underfunded emergencies, in order to help redress imbalances in global aid distribution, as a result of which millions of people in so-called neglected or forgotten crises remain in need.

[Last Update: 2 April 2007]

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