Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Volume 6 Issue 2 The Journal of Mine Action Article 11

August 2002

One Leg Dancing (Um Pé Que Dança) Angola Embraces the Future

Joe Lokey Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU (CISR)

Ken O'Connell MgM

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Recommended Citation Lokey, Joe and O'Connell, Ken (2002) "One Leg Dancing (Um Pé Que Dança) Angola Embraces the Future," Journal of Mine Action : Vol. 6 : Iss. 2 , Article 11. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol6/iss2/11

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction by an authorized editor of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Lokey and O'Connell: One Leg Dancing (Um Pé Que Dança) Angola Embraces the Future

Published by JMU Scholarly Commons, 2002 1 Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 6, Iss. 2 [2002], Art. 11

• The Ludana The war destroyed over nire role in rhe process and almost no in­ UNITA rhat hampered the free move­ governments and private donations. A slums. c/o 5,000 schools in Angola volvement in the administration of rhe ment of parry representatives so crucial major problem is rhat demining is only Rodger Bosch for MgM and those who do man­ camps. The Angolan government quickly ro rhe political reintegration of UN ITA as a being conducted in eight of Angola's 18 age ro periodically make points our rhar rhe UN peace agreements viable political parry in Angola. This ban provinces. The following demining or­ ir to overcrowded class- brokered in 1991 and 1994 enabled has si nce been lifted, but the continued ganizations have operational bases, with ad­ rooms- sometimes UNITA to rearm and rebuild and rhar obstacles ro a equate funding levels, in these provinces: holding as many as 90 fu rther UN involvement could once workable peace NGO Provlnce(s) in one room-have few again forrif)r UN ITA borh logistically and presented by Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) Huila, Malanje, Kwanza Norte, Moxico resources with which to politically. T hey are determined rhar rhis rhe United Na- Mines Advisory Group (MAG) Moxico, Cunene learn. Even with access will nor happen again. tions are nor HALO Trust Huambo, Bie, Benguela (Cubal) to educati on, children The recent survey report from rhe unnoticed. frequently arrive late or Geneva l nrernarional Center for Hu­ INAROEE remains a viable entity Two other demining organizations, leave early to help earn manitarian Demining (GICHD) (The in Angola though plagued with the same I NTERSOS of Italy and Sta. Barbara of a living for rheir fami­ Mine Action Sector in Angola-Mission Re­ resource constraints as other governmen­ Germany, have no funding committed lies. About three our of port) is an example of rhe UN's desire to tal activities. They have pur together a for 2002 and are not active in thei r op­ ten rural women over expand UN influence and control over mobile ream in Bie Province working erational province of Huila. This means I 5 can read or write. rhe landmine process in Angola. While wirh T-55 tanks equipped with KMT-5 rhar rhe following provinces have no Only a third reach fifth minimizing and dismissing rhe role of rollers. They have also begun coordinat­ demining cover at the moment: Luanda, grade and none bur rhe INAROEE, rhe report does support rhe ing with the Angolan Armed Forces Kwanza Sui, Uige, Zaire, Benguela (ex­ children ofAngola's rich new inter-ministerial coordination body (FAA) combat engineers who will have a cept Cuba!), Cuando Cubango, Lunda governmental elite have (CN IDAH) bur recommends the injec­ 25 percent representation on rheirdemining Norte, Lunda Sui, Namibe and Cabinda. rh e opportunity fo r tion of UN advisors and the replacement reams. The I NARO EE Dem i ni ng School This may change as coordinating com­ higher education. Teach­ of the Angolan landmine database wirh ar ETAM is operational and rhe instruc­ mittees in provincial capitals work with gent UNITA rebels, Jonas Sav imbi, was NGOs have remained present, deter­ ers musr overcome landmines ro reach rhe rhe UN's Information Management Sys­ tors who were trained by Sourh Africa arc government officials to get their mine ki lled in February of2002. mined ro keep roads open, fie lds clear and srudenrs. tem for M ine Action (IMSMA) system in camp and preparing for an influx of action needs into rhe national Critical A peace memorand um was signed hope al ive. One of rhose, rhe German T he camps are the focal points of rhar was designed to give evenrual UN deminers, surveyors, explosive ordnance Needs Assessment and adequate resources on April 4rh rhar allows rhe movemenr charity Srifru ng Menschen gegen M in en inrernarional arrenrion bur rhe greater oversight over funding and resources go­ disposal (EOD) personnel and team lead­ are allocated as a result. of fo rmer UNJTA soldiers into 35 can­ (MgM) is one of rhe most well known human tragedy swirl ing around rhcm are ing inro national programs. While rhe ers ready for retraining. The World Food Program (WFP) tonment areas where demobilization and and highly respected demining chari ties mill ions of displaced Angolans rhar have report acknowledges many of rhe chal­ continues to address rhe hunger situation disarmamenr activities coincide with in Angola, and rhis is our view. been avoiding rhe fighting for decades. lenges, ir did lirrle ro recommend Demining Priorities in Angola, compares it to the mine threat retraining and repatriating former com­ Adding to rhis number is another half Angolan solutions ro Angolan problems. in former areas of hostilities, and sets pri­ baranrs and their fami lies. Of particular Impact of the War million or so emerging from previously The United Nations had also been The majority of mine clearance in orities. In Malanje, WFP needed to clear concern, though, is rhar rhe government held UNITA area. Women and young a major obstacle toward peace by con­ Angola continues to be done by a small and prepare areas outside the ciry to allow underestimated rhe numbers of return­ The horror of landmines only mag­ girls are particularly at risk as rhey forage tinuing travel sanctions on members of group of NGOs unilaterally funded via all Internally Displaced Peoples (lOPs) ing soldiers and rheir fami lies with more nifies rhe crisis in basic health provision for food, wood and water. The number within the ciry limits at least than 79,000 arriving with 236,000 fam­ in Angola. Health professionals and aid of displaced people in Angola is d ifficul t 0.5 hectare of arable land. ily members. This has overwhelmed rhe groups cannot travel safely on mined to measure bur NGOs indicate it could This was done to reduce de­ Angolan government and rheir movement roads ro address basic health needs. be over four million with about halfbeing pendency on food aid received throughout the country is only exacer­ Nearly every hospital, clinic and health children. In Moxico alone, there are over from WFP. Likewise in Huila, bated by rhe landmine problems. T hus facility in rhe country has been destroyed. 250,000 displaced and rhey a re expect­ WFP feels that one of rhe big­ far, the demobilization process has been lr is nor uncommon to fmd shocking ing another 350,000 to emerge from gest th rears to the develop­ less than efficient wirh rhe confusion dail y deaths due to malaria, malnurririon former UN ITA areas. As if the daily hor­ ment of safe areas for safety between the government and Un ited and orher prevemable diseases. I mmuniza­ ror ofrhe exposure of war were nor enough, of the population and resettle­ Nations (UN) effectively isolating rhe rion rates in Angola are among rhe lowest as many as halfof those are reported to have ment is large stockpiles of am­ NGOs and aid groups. Confusion is pre­ in rhe world. About half of rhe children witnessed a landmine incident. Trying ro munition. The first priority venting action. Landmines don't care. under five in Angola are underweight and address this has been difficult since less rhan given to MgM is the clearance Of rhe 2,610 known minefields in ar critical risk to a variety of diseases. No 30 percent of the $233 million (U.S.) of a huge cache rhar exists ar Angola, less rhan a fifth have been cleared trained anendam ar births directly con­ sought in an inter-agency appeal has actu­ the end of the runway, next and released for public use. Many more tributes to rhe astonishing 172 deaths per ally been received. to rhe hospital in rhe town of minefields remain in fo rmer UNITA­ I ,000 births in Angola. Angola is one of Caconda. There are more sires conrrolled areas and rhe extent ro which five countries nor to eradicate polio. The UN Role to follow. roads, airporrs, bridges, railways and other Opening access routes is rhe first step. These priorities were infrasrrucrure may be mined is unknown The educational systems in Angola The UN is nor viewed in Angola as written up last year when to anyone. While much of the world has are in a shambles. Si nce children are rhe an enriry rhar can be crus red, and for good there was lirde hope of peace abandoned Angola for perry political rea­ fu ture ofany country, Angola is guaranreed reason. The government of Angola has in Angola. Now the situation is continually changing. Ar sons, a small handful of mi ne clearance a generational dependency on outside aid. resisted giving UN aid agencies any deft- • Only thoroughly trained explosive detection dogs are being deployed in the mine sweeping projects of MgM. c/o MgM, People Against Landmines

https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol6/iss2/11 • 38 • • 39 • 2 Lokey and O'Connell: One Leg Dancing (Um Pé Que Dança) Angola Embraces the Future

the NGO level, there is still a certain who rhen proceed homewards. This is not funding that WFP is rhe lead agency. This a priority set by WFP in 1998 for the available for the reconstruction of these Angolan deaths. Mines can be cleared now. amounr of confusion as to what is hap­ thought ro be a spontaneous relocation now means that, on rhe one hand, MgM route clearan ce fro m the town of lines, most of which have to be checked Without increased support at this pening inside the country. It is reported out of Luanda, but rather family mem­ wi ll be working in the same provinces as Cazombo. This would have allowed for and cleared oflandmines prior to engineers critical junction, the lack of access by rhar rhe UN ITA fighters are going into bers returning to their homes ro grow N orwegian Peoples Aid (N PA) while, on road transportation offood flown in from starting work on them. Initial contacts WFP and other aid groups and the lack thei r designated holding camps, handing crops ro return and sell them in Luanda. the other hand, there is no funding avail­ Luanda or transported across the border have been made co introduce MgM to of simple in fo rmation will indeed doom in their weapons in preparation to be in­ The rest of the fami ly stays in Luanda to able fo r MgM's traditional operational from Zambia. This project would have the possible main con tractor for the thousands of Angolans to starvatio n as regrated into the FAA as well as being fed conti nue as they have for the last few years areas of Bengo and Cunene Provinces. eventually cleared into Cuando Cuban go developments of these lines and MgM's they continue to roam the mine infested and receiving a salary, though this may since rhey relocated ro the capi tal. Funds are now being sought to expand and on to Cunene linking al l areas with extensive experience clearing the roads and fields in search of life itself. only be the officer corps for rhe moment. T hroughout the country there are on these projects as well as projects that MgM aid and developmem coming from Zambia Limpopo rail lines in Mozambique are a MgM is dedicated to resolving this and The main fear for some organizations is lOP camps and people residing in safe wish to continue in Bengo and Cunene. and Namibia. These three provinces are valuable reference. The key to rhe future has pledged itself to continued relief in rhat those troops designated for demobiliza­ cities. T hese displaced peoples arc rhe In Bengo, there are over 60,000 sparsely populated, bur over 200,000 may be rhe opening of the rail line to the one of Africa's keys to future economic tion may not be trained adequately for rein­ ones who wish ro return to their homes; lOPs in two camps outside Caxito. Al­ nomads are forced to live outside Angolan rich coffee growing area ofNambuangongo. growth, rich in both resources and culture. tegration inro society. they are also the ones who are most at though one group of around 25,000 have borders. C learance in these areas will al­ Both these projects are looked upon as high MgM remains at the front and welcomes Much of rhe donor hesitation revolves risk from rhe threat of mines. Also, there already starred to relocate to areas where low free movement for these people again. priority, for the safety of the people living in additional assistance and support. We also around the simple fact rhat Angola is, on are people who are in areas formally un­ access is open, rhere are a further 35,000 In 200 1, MgM also carried out two an ammunition dump who with all like­ gratefully acknowledge the tremendous paper, one of rhe wealthiest countries on der the control ofUNITA who have been who come from an area (Dembos) rhar is major surveys. One survey was carried our lihood will not return to their original homes, financial contributions of the U.S. State the African continent in terms of irs natu­ isolated and require immediate aid. In completely blocked. Access is available at the sire of an old ammunition storage and for those who would like to eliminate D epartment's Humanitarian Demining ral resources. Almost all agree rhar rhe both cases, access is the watchword: safe along tar roads to towns of Ucua, Piri, site that suffered a major detonation. This their dependency on aid in the long term. Program Office in recognition of the Angolan government itself must play a access ro allow people to return to their Quibaxi and Alto Galungo, while roads site contained aerial deployed weapons value of our efforts. Please visit our web large role in clearing landmines and address­ homes, and access to allow aid agencies to towns of Bula Atumba and Pango and is now surrounded by a residential Conclusion sire or contact us to learn more. The won­ ing the panoply of ills affiicting the victims and organ izations to support isolated Aluquem and others in the jungle are in­ area. The majority of the serviceable derful people of Angola deserve your of mines. Toward that end , a pledge of communities most at risk. accessible. The people vacated this area ordnance has been moved, though a sub­ The fragile peace in Angola appears thoughts, prayers and consideration. • This is rhe type of three and a half years ago and rhe roads stantial amount was left spread over a to be a reali ty, and demining is an integral • Graves in Angola. Contact Information c/o Guy Tillim for operation that MgM are completely overgrown. Nobody will large area close to the International Air­ part of sustaining this very delicate pro­ MgM specializes in , having attempt to drive down them fo r the threat pore of Luanda. No check has been done cess. There have been discussions about cu r its teerh, so ro of mines, forcing people to stay in the of what was left in the soil, and a simple large amounts of aid pledged for Angola, Joe Lokey speak, in opening up lOP camps fo r food, security and other rake can pull up unexploded munitions bur this appears to be far offat rhe momen r. D irector, MgM, Inc. USA over 270 kilometers of support. With funding for clearance in this where children play daily. Donors seem to be waiting for more de­ E-mail: [email protected] roads in rhe jungles of area, eventually these people will be able The second survey was carried out velopments and possibly small successes Website: http:/ /www.mgm.org northeast Bengo Prov­ to return home. This developed clearance on rhe Benguela railway line in Huambo. in the short term before committing. The ince and allowing over team will then graduate on to clearance [r is now obvious that the railway network problem is rhar all NGOs in Angola have Ken O'Connell 50 ,000 people to of routes from Negage and Uige cities, in in Angola is central ro rhe regeneration been under-funded for years relative to Program D irector, MgM Angola safely return to their Uige Province, to outer communities. of the interior of the country and especial! y the task at hand, and their equipment E-mail: [email protected] homes. Negotiations Uige has been one on the major recent the towns and cities that lie along those needs alone may nor permit the ki nd of Website: http:/ /www. mgm.org will have to be entered barrie zones in Angola, along with lines. There appears to be European progress needed. Donor reluctance may inro wi rh Provincial Malanje, Lunda Norte and Moxico. O nce Union (EU) and possibly Angolan funding be responsible for hundreds of preventable $57 million was set aside by Angola from Authorities, WFP and other bodies to route clearance has been carried om in which demining was ro have received draw up new plans and priorities. It is Uige, it can move on to clear the few around a 10 percent share. The NGOs certain rhar in Malanje province the pri­ routes closed by mines in Zaire Province. in Angola all report little optimism that orities wi ll now change from opening up Cunene is another province badly this will ever reach them and none be­ land for use by lOPs close ro the city to needing rome clearance. MgM has an lieve it will actually get spent. opening roads to allow the TOPs safe ac­ extensive maintenance facility developed cess to their homes, and also in turn ac­ in Ondjiva, parr of which is to support A Matter of Access cess to markets. MgM demining operations in the south­ ern provinces but also supports other Demining is an importam parr of MgM Solutions Need NGOs in the region. Many comm unities the peace process. Particul arly, it helps to Support are isolated from rhe provincial capital. provide safe access to aid groups, while This restricts support and forces people, also allowing them more freedom of When priorities were being prepared especially women, to carry goods to main movement. Unfortunately, the problem fo r proposals for year 2002, MgM had roads for sale at markets. is that the same freedom is afforded ro been asked by rhe WFP to starr demining Romes eventually have to be opened the Angolan population. On a positive note operations in rhe provinces of Malanje into Cuando Cubango, which still has this freedom means that the usual mili­ and Huila. This also fi r in with priorities many areas closed off due to the threat of tary-organized convoys are a thing of the requested by the U.S. Department of mines. Similarly in Moxico, routes also past. As an example, there are large groups State (DOS) for funding purposes for need to be opened in rhe central and of people who gather to the east ofViana, 2002 funding. It also helped for DOS southern areas of the province. MgM had

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