Angola

World Food Programme

History

World Food Programme has been present in Angola since the late seventies, providing food aid to an average of as many as 1 million people every month in Angola for the last two years (since the end of the war in 2002). The majority of the people who were hungry were displaced persons who had to abandon their homes as a result of the 27 year-long civil conflict.On 4 April 2002 the Government and UNITA signed a cease-fire agreement that led to the end of what is still considered to have been the “longest running civil war in Africa”.The end of hostilities translated into increased access to regions that were previously cut-off from humanitarian aid while large numbers of demobilized soldiers and their relatives were also in urgent need of assistance. The number of people assisted by the WFP increased by nearly 80%.In carrying out its operations in Angola, WFP faces various difficulties such as access problems deriving from derelict roads, bridges and airstrips. The danger of landmines is still present in many parts of the country and this also affects access to the needy as well as the free movement of people and goods.

Two Three years since the end of armed conflict, the Government and civil society have begun to come to terms with the country's human rights commitments and the challenges that still lie ahead. Much remains in terms of respect for Social and economic rights are still not fully respected, and access to justice is limited to the capital. For the first time in the country’s history, national human rights institution is now under establishment in the form of the newly elected (April, 2005) Provedor de Justica, The Human Rights Ombudsman. A process is now underway to establish a national and provincial system of human rights plans of action and institutions. In the absence of a well‑functioning judiciary, such a system may be crucial for ensuring accountability as the country prepares for the second general elections, scheduled for 2006. A process is also underway to establish a national and provincial system of human rights plans of action.

During extensive consultations with the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), Government institutions, other United Nations agencies, donors and civil society groups agreed that OHCHR has an important role to play in the country's transition process, and that it should remain in the country at least until the general elections are held. The Office therefore extended its presence in the country to implement another two year project (2005 - 2006) which will complement the country's efforts to consolidate peace and democracy, to build respect for human rights and the rule of law, and to promote respect for the social and economic rights of all Angolans.

As OHCHR's mandate is limited to human rights promotion, all work related to human rights protection will depend on the office's partners in state and government and in civil society. The Office will also work to bring other UN agencies with a field presence in Angola more systematically into human rights protection activities. OHCHR's main strategy vis - a - vis the Government will be to actively support the establishment and development of the Ombudsman institution, both in Luanda and in the provinces, a national human rights institution with direct links to the provincial human rights committees and to the human rights institutions of civil society and The Office attempts to assist these institutions in achieving the necessary technical and financial resources to actively carry out protection functions in the country.

STRATEGY

As OHCHR's mandate is limited to human rights promotion, all work related to human rights protection will depend on the office's partners in state and government and in civil society. The Office will also work to bring other UN agencies with a field presence in Angola more systematically into human rights protection activities. OHCHR's main strategy vis - a - vis the Government will be to actively support the establishment and development of the Ombudsman institution, both in Luanda and in the provinces, a national human rights institution with direct links to the provincial human rights committees and to the human rights institutions of civil society and The Office attempts to assist these institutions in achieving the necessary technical and financial resources to actively carry out protection functions in the country.

OBJECTIVES

The overall objective is to assist in the consolidation of peace and democracy by strengthening national capacities in human rights and the rule of law. Four immediate objectives are:

- Mainstreaming human rights throughout the society;

- Promoting the rule of law, access to justice and reconciliation;

- Promoting civil and political rights, in view of the 2006 general elections; and

- Promoting the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, and implementation of the rights based strategy to combat poverty.

Passenger Air Services for the Humanitarian Community (SO 10146.1)

Each month this project provides approximately 1,000 people in the Angola humanitarian community with passenger air services to areas inaccessible by either surface means or reliable commercial air services. In addition, it enables emergency air transport for humanitarian workers in the event of the need for medical or security evacuation and offers transportation of limited quantities of non-food-items using passenger aircraft. During the recent outbreak of the Marburg virus (related to Ebola, of unknown origin) this service provided essential air transportation to the humanitarian community engaged in the fight to contain the epidemic. An estimated USD 400,000 are still needed to keep this service running until the end of the year.

Bridge Reconstruction (SO 10375.01)

Estimated to cost approximately USD 7 million over a period of 15 months, its objective is to improve access to vulnerable populations through the erection of temporary bridges where a large number of IDPs and refugees will resettle. The plan is to provide at least 15 new metal bridges throughout the country, though principally in the Plan Alto and Moxico province. This project is fully funded thanks to generous contributions from the European Union, The United Kingdom