Assessment of Reproductive Health for IDPs
Angola, February 15-28, 2001
Background
An
assessment was conducted of reproductive health among internally displaced
persons (IDPs) in Angola from February 15-28,
2001 by Columbia University, JSI Research and
Training Institute and the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and
Children on behalf of the Reproductive Health Response in Conflict Consortium
(RHRC).
1
Assessment team:
Meriwether Beatty, Technical Advisor, JSI Research and Training Institute
Rachel K. Jones, Reproductive Health Project Manager, Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
Therese McGinn, Assistant Clinical Professor of Public Health, Columbia University's Heilbrunn Center for Population and Family Health
The assessment team visited IDP camps in Bie, Malanje, Moxico, and Huambo provinces as well as Viana IDP camp on the outskirts of Luanda.
This assessment was hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Our deepest appreciation goes to the staff of UNFPA-Angola, especially Dr. Antonica Hembe, Dr. Julio Leite da Costa and Janet Albrecht for their support and assistance. We would also like to thank Filomena Costa for accompanying us and providing her valuable insights, and Paulino Domingos, our tireless and extremely patient translator. Our gratitude goes out to the many IDPs and health workers who took the time to share their experiences with us.
- UNFPA video Nkulimbwa - The Forgotten
Angola is located in southwestern Africa; it borders Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo-Brazzaville. Angola gained its independence from Portugal in 1975, and has been embroiled in armed conflict ever since, resulting in the dislocation of a large proportion of the population. The U.S. Committee for Refugees estimated that approximately 340,000 Angolans were refugees in neighboring countries at the end of 1999. 2 Many more have become internally displaced within the country's borders. The number of IDPs is now estimated to be between 3.8 and 4 million, or approximately one third the total population of 12.6 million. 3
Angola has a wealth of natural resources, including oil and diamonds. The United States imports approximately 8% of its oil from Angola - this is more than it imports from Kuwait. 4 Unfortunately, those resources are fueling the war rather than benefiting the Angolan population.
Currently, the two major parties involved in the conflict are the Angolan Government/Movement for the Popular Liberation of Angola (MPLA) Party and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Technically the government controls all of the provincial capitals and 80% of the municipalities. UNITA, however, is still very active throughout the country, particularly in areas that are not dominated by the government. In general, the ongoing conflict between the two factions causes constant and often volatile insecurity. This has added to the logistical challenges of humanitarian assistance.
One of the horrific
consequences of the war is the huge number of landmines planted throughout
Angola. Angola is estimated to have more landmines than any country
in the
world - every kind imaginable, including those placed above ground that
are painted in bright colors to entice children to play
with them. The devastating effect of landmines in Angola cannot
be stressed strongly enough. It is estimated that one in 400 Angolans
has suffered a landmine accident. 5
Landmines blanket the countryside making it impossible in many regions
for people to cultivate food or raise livestock. This has created
a dependency on the World Food Program (WFP)
for food deliveries by air.
The Angolan Ministry for Social Assistance and Reinsertion (MINARS)
is the government agency responsible for the IDPs
in Angola. MINARS works closely with other
government branches, as well as with the UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),
other UN agencies and international NGOs.
The UN agencies and international NGOs
provide financial and technical support to many of the government services.
During our visit, many spoke of an increasing donor fatigue in Angola
and a real concern about who would fill in the gaps if these agencies
leave.
1. Reproductive Health Response in Conflict Consortium members:
American Refugee Committee, CARE International, Columbia University's
Heilbrunn Center for Population and Family Health, International Rescue
Committee, JSI Research and Training Institute, Marie Stopes International,
and Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children.
2. United States Committee for Refugees, World Refugee Survey 2000,
December 1999.
3. 8 million is the estimate of the United Nations Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and 4 million is the estimate of the
Angolan government.
4. The
New Yorker, August 14, 2000.
5. Source: UNDP
