HIGHLIGHTS
Post conflict situations
Angola: Despite 60 % of the country still remaining unreachable, more and more areas have become accessible and people have moved closer to places where humanitarian aid can be provided, leading to a rise in the number of people requiring assistance. Although the situation seems to have improved in some areas, the nutrition situation in newly accessible locations has usually been found to be critical, as well as in the .Quartering and Family Areas., where former UNITA soldiers and their families are being settled.
Needs are huge both in terms of emergency programmes to provide basic services, but also in terms of de-mining, infrastructure rehabilitation, and support for population resettlement. It is of great concern that humanitarian activities remain acutely under funded.
Afghanistan: The return of 1.8 m refugees was far higher than expected and exceeds both the capacities of the humanitarian agencies and the funding available to handle the needs. The majority of returnees has settled in the cities, particularly Kabul, and apparently has both poor living conditions and poor nutritional status. The situation may worsen further over winter.
On-going conflicts
Sudan: The humanitarian situation is desperate in some areas of Southern Sudan, particularly in Upper Nile and Jongley regions, with very high rates of malnutrition, morbidity and mortality. Access of humanitarian aid to the population is constantly hampered.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Despite the signing of peace accords with Rwanda and Uganda, the situation remains very tense. The millions of IDPs are still facing extremely difficult living conditions and the insecurity continues to constraint humanitarian access.
Upsurge in violence
Uganda: The worsening security situation in Northern Uganda has led to the displacement of about 30,000 Sudanese refugees and of thousands of residents. It has also prevented cultivation, hence made people totally dependent on food aid. The delivery of the food aid itself has been problematic due to attacks on the convoys. Both continued assessment of population needs and programme implementation are threatened by the volatile security situation.
West Africa: Humanitarian needs remain high. Although the situation in Sierra Leone remains stable, returnees face difficult conditions when resettling, and particularly women headed households. The upsurge in violence in Liberia has forced thousands of people to move into camps, especially in the suburbs of Monrovia, or to cross the borders into Sierra Leone or Guinea. The destabilisation of Ivory Coast has also displaced thousands of Ivorians and will further worsen the situation of the whole region.
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