ANGOLA

Angola report 2001 [5]

OPERATIONS

The flood

By the end of May just about all the minefields, making up the complex at Yanga dia Vata, had been cleared. Only one major mined area remain, that between two hills. Unfortunately due to floodwaters from the Rio Loge, still swollen from the seasonal rains, this minefield was inaccessible. There are two other roads known to be mined, but they are not a direct threat to the local population, they are not required for use and by-passes have been put in place to avoid these routes.

Attacked again

The demining teams finished off working on the other minefields, were in the process of being re-deployed to start work on clearing the barrier minefield at the access to Ambriz, when the town was attacked by UNITA (FALA) forces. Unfortunately this has destabilised all the developmental work that was being achieved in the area, and unfortunately resulted in the removal of the MgM demining team from the town. This was mainly at the behest of the military authorities in the area who wished to retain the barrier minefield for the protection of Ambriz. It should be noted that the Civil Authorities of Ambriz requested that MgM return to the area to continue demining towards the end of the year. This could not be reacted to since all resources were operational on other emergency tasks. If possible this will be reconsidered during 2002.

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