appeal no: 05/96 ANGOLA: INTEGRATED 15 March 1996 HEALTH & BRANCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME THIS APPEAL SEEKS CHF 7,807,000 IN CASH, KIND AND SERVICES TO ASSIST 600,000 BENEFICIARIES FOR 9 MONTHS Summary Africa's longest civil war in modern times finally appeared to end on 20 November 1994 with the signing of a peace agreement in Lusaka, Zambia, by the Angolan government and the UNITA rebel group. The agreement came only two years after a return to fighting following UNITA’s refusal to accept the results of an election which swept the MPLA government back into power, but 21 years after the war began in the scramble to replace the Portuguese colonial regime. Fifteen months after the signing of the peace accord, the legacy of the war remains largely intact. Angola's economy and infrastructure is shattered, its mineral wealth stripped (though large natural resources remain) and its politics polarised into mutual distrust and suspicion backed by huge quantities of arms. Only 500 soldiers had been completely de-mobilised by the UN peacekeeping force at the end of 1995, leaving tens of thousands of soldiers still to be re-integrated into civilian life. Negotiations between the two parties are moving forward cautiously, but with the passing of time peace is taking a firmer grip on Angola, making a return to hostilities increasingly unlikely, though not impossible. Given this gloomy scenario, the importance of a rapid and successful beginning to the long process of rehabilitation and reconstruction becomes even greater. The Intended Operation After many years of experience in emergency relief, the time is ripe for the Angolan Red Cross Society (ARCS) to undertake an expansion of its present rehabilitation and development activities in six provinces to cover the most populated 12 provinces of Angola within the next two years, and all 18 provinces by 1999. The proposed Integrated Branch and Community Health Development Programme will emphasise traditional activities of the Red Cross — including the running of health posts and community-based first aid — but will also cover services like maternal health centres, targeted relief and social welfare assistance, mine awareness, and Red Cross branch rehabilitation, with a general focus on institutional and resource development. This appeal, for CHF 7,807,000, is for operations in 1996 only. However, the Federation's two-phase plan of action extends for much longer. The first phase runs from 1996 to 1998 and the appeal no. 05/95 second from 1999 to 2003. Details on later phases of the operation will be finalised as progress in the peace process and the capacity of the National Society become clearer. The Disaster Virtually the entire population of Angola was affected either directly or indirectly by the resumption of the civil war in October 1992. The renewed fighting resulted in further loss of life, massive population displacement and the continuing diversion of labour away from production to fighting. Meanwhile, the government’s provision of essential services such as health, water, sanitation and education was severely curtailed due to insecurity and a collapse in economic resources. This decline in health provision was reflected in rocketing rates of infant mortality (200 per 1,000 live births) and maternal mortality (more that 1,000 per 100,000 births). Although political progress between the government and the UNITA rebels is stuttering and extremely slow — the present peace in Angola offers the best opportunity for over 21 years to begin major reconstruction and development work. For this reason, the Federation intends to increase substantially its support to the Angolan Red Cross to ensure the National Society makes a meaningful contribution towards the country’s recovery and future development. The Response so far Government Action The government of Angola is presently allocating 40% of its budget to the Ministry of Defence, while the Ministry of Health receives 5%, Education 6%, Social Assistance 5% and Housing 2%. The strongest government involvement in humanitarian issues is taking place through the Ministry of Social Affairs and Reintegration (MINARS). Although the primary role of MINARS is to facilitate the demobilisation process of soldiers, it is also participating in the activities of the Humanitarian Co-ordination Group (HCG). Red Cross/Red Crescent Action The ARCS occupies a unique position in Angola as the only national humanitarian organisation present in all provinces which has a permanent commitment to assist the most vulnerable groups. The ARCS is currently providing basic health services in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in 14 health posts and food and non-food commodities to displaced and other vulnerable people in six provinces. Unfortunately, the National Society is not able to do more because of the severe effects of the war. The ARCS lost staff and volunteers in the conflict, and struggles at the moment due to a lack of professional skills and poor internal funding. Training activities (courses and on-the-job training) have therefore been initiated by the Federation to strengthen gradually the National Society’s structure and operational capacity. Participating National Societies (PNS), through the Federation, are providing technical and financial support to all these activities. Other Agencies’ Action More than 114 national and international non-governmental and other humanitarian organisations are currently operating in Angola (a number which does not include UN agencies). These organisations are present in all 18 of Angola’s provinces, carrying out health and nutrition, food and non-food, education, water and sanitation, and mine action programmes. Co-ordination The UN’s Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) is present in Angola under the UCAH acronym (Humanitarian Assistance Co-ordination Unit). UCAH is co-ordinating 2 appeal no. 05/95 the activities of UN agencies and other organisations working on emergency relief, the demobilisation and integration of ex-soldiers, as well on mine-related activities. Those organisations working with food assistance are co-ordinated by WFP. Until now, UNICEF has co-ordinated all health activities but this role will probably be taken over by WHO soon. The Humanitarian Co-ordination Group is the forum in which relief activities and policies in Angola are discussed. Members of the HCG include UCAH (representing UN agencies), the Angolan government (mainly MINARS), UNITA and the group of observer countries (Portugal, Russia and USA). ICRC, the Federation and a few other entities have observer status at the HCG. The Needs to be met Assessment of Needs A Federation team visited Angola in January to review and plan a Post-War Angola Red Cross Health and Branch Rehabilitation and Development Programme. The mission team facilitated a three-day joint planning workshop for the ARCS staff and Federation delegation. The material was used to design a draft programme strategy, specific objectives and an accompanying budget. The strategy document has been endorsed by the National Society. Immediate Needs In order to guarantee effective support to the proposed programme, the ARCS needs to hold its General Assembly within the next months. This will provide the necessary legal instrument to re-establish the governance and administrative structures of the National Societies. Anticipated Later Needs The detailed identification of later needs depends on the evaluation outcome of the first programme phase. Red Cross Objectives To provide food and non-food relief to 150,000 people (double the 1995 level) directly affected by the war in 12 provinces (Luanda, Kwanza Norte/Sul, Benguela, Huila, Namibe, Bengo, Uige, Malange, Bie, Cunene, Cuando-Cubango). To rehabilitate and open eight new health posts and two Mother/Child health care centres (MCH), and thus provide all the elements of essential care to an estimated population of 600,000 people in accordance with national health plans and policies. To drill ten water points and construct 20 latrines to serve ten health posts and local communities receiving assistance through these health posts. To provide mine awareness and education training to an estimated population of 200,000 in three provinces (Zaire, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul) through 90 trained ARC volunteers. These volunteers will be equipped with graphic and promotional material, training curricula and bicycles for outreach to neighbouring districts. The programme will also be carried out in collaboration with Norwegian People’s Aid, who will train and equip the ARCS volunteers while the Federation/ARCS co-ordinates and monitors their activities. To provide social welfare assistance in six provinces to 200 physically-disabled persons (mainly amputees) through the identification of those in need of artificial limbs, the provision of transport and post-treatment follow-up in the form of vocational training to meet basic needs. Assessments will be conducted in each target community. 3 appeal no. 05/95 To provide psycho-social support for an estimated 600 persons in six provinces through preventive and therapeutic counselling and occupational and educational activities. This support will be organised around selected health facilities through specifically developed programmes and will utilise trained Red Cross youth and volunteers as essential care givers. Assessments will be conducted in each target community. To facilitate the process leading the ARCS towards the status of a well-functioning National Society in terms of governance,