ANGOLA

Angola report 2001 [7]

OPERATIONS

Emergency Task still waits for funding

The most drastic to look at was the ordnance stockpile at the end of the runway in Luanda. This used to be a very large depot until an accident in 1992 that resulted in one area of the depot being destroyed and ordnance being sprayed over a large area. Much of the ordnance, mostly aircraft deployed, that could be re-used was moved to a safer location the rest left out of sight. Luanda is continually undergoing expansion, due to the influx of displaced persons from the countryside, with one new Bairro being opened in on the site of this old ordnance dump. This was brought to the attention of MgM by INAROEE after accidents occurred there. Funds are still being sought to allow MgM to train and mobilise a specialist EOD Team to clear the Bairro before any more accidents occur.
See also the incredible picture galery BAIRRO here.

More requests

The mission to Huambo was at the request of the Provincial Governor, and is related to opening up initially around 100 kms of track. The first 40 kms is to the town of Ca'ala, this would allow food and other supplies to be moved to the IDP Camps around the town by rail, and then 60 kms of track from a branch line to the south of Ca'ala. This would have the benefit of supporting the IDP communities outside Huambo without having to put more pressure on the crumbling road network, and allow railway engineers to remove the unwanted track on the branch line, that will be restored for use on broken portions of the mainline. Eventually with the mainline open to Lobito building materials can be easily transported to Huambo, and Kuito, to facilitate reconstruction.

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