For the second time in two months, the humanitarian organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has issued a press release calling for more international support to be provided for Mavinga- a remote town and its surrounding area in the Cuando Cubango province in southern Angola. In recent weeks, because of a complete lack of food in the 'reception areas' (previously known as Quartering and Family areas) in Matungo and Capembe, around 10,000 people have abandoned the reception areas and moved, en mass, to Mavinga, some 50kms away.
That these people would have chosen Mavinga as a destination for aid is, in itself, incredible- but there is no other place to go. Mavinga is an isolated region, deep in the province, completely surrounded by landmines. There is little here save an airstrip and dusty roads.
A direct clean water supply does not exist in Mavinga and 10 people have died in the last two weeks from shigellosis (bloody diarrhoea). What water is being brought in is not enough for the people who were there before the exodus started. With the new arrivals, the situation is likely to get far worse.
It should be no surprise that this is the area the Portugese called "o fin do mundo" (the end o the world).
The International community has been slow to react. Food supplies remain insufficient- but it the only area where people know there is any food. There are 10,000 displaced people in Mavinga already. The people travelling to Mavinga know full well that the surrounding area is heavily mined. But they have started the journey, regardless.
MSF Epicentre epidemiologist, Thomas Grein, was in the midst of conducting a mortality survey for MSF in the region when the exodus started two weeks ago.
"At the time of the survey, news spread through the quartering areas that they should move to Mavinga where the food is," he said. "We saw thousands of people start walking in single file down the road carrying bundles on their heads."
What is happening in Mavinga?
"There is a serious lack of water in Mavinga. Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is providing 50,000-100,000 litres per day - but with the new influx of people that is not enough and there could be possible contamination of the water supply ," explained Fred Meylan, a Head of Mission for MSF in Angola. "People talk about a dead donkey in the river, but nobody has confirmed this
"The airstrip is beginning to be spoiled by increase of aerial traffic (creating holes) and soon, if the rain comes, then the cargo plane we use and WFP planes won't be able to land," he added. "For three months I have asked the UN to bring in a grader to fix the airstrip and there has been no response,"
The World Food Programme (WFP) is flying four rotations a day into Mavinga, churning up the strip. It has rained twice in Mavinga already, which is worrying because normally the rainy season does not usually start until October. If the rain continues it will soon be impossible to bring in the necessary food stocks and humanitarian aid that the people need to survive the rest of the year.
What can be done for Mavinga?
"We need more realistic support such as new trucks to deliver the food and we need some serious water and sanitation intervention before a cholera epidemic spreads through the population. Above all we need de-mining agencies to start surveying the area so that we can reach isolated populations and work safely," reiterated Fred Meylan, MSF Head of Mission.
The airstrip was closed recently due to the discovery of anti-tank mines. There are landmines all around Mavinga so it is impossible to investigate the areas and determine the conditions of the people there. There are no demining agencies working in the entire region, which is known to be one of the most heavily mined in the country.
MSF in Mavinga
In Cuando Cubango province, MSF is operating one TFC and three SFCs, treating some 2,300 patients. MSF staff have done measles vaccinations for 17,466 children in quartering areas and has provided blanket feeding for up to 10,000 people in the reception areas and Mavinga in June and July.
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