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Internally Displaced Persons: Luena Memorandum of Understanding

Implementations

Internally Displaced Persons – 2002

The 2002 Luena Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) calls for continuing and completing the implementation of the 1994 Lusaka Protocol. The Lusaka Protocol calls for the resettlement of displaced persons.

UNAVEM-3 estimated that around 10 percent of the total displaced population of 1.2 million had returned to their homes by the end of 1995. The slow rate of return was attributable to security concerns and the rainy season.¹

Repatriation continued on a very limited scale in 1996 and 1997 and started to reverse in 1998 as UNITA and the Angolan Government returned to war. In 1998, there was a “rapid increase in the number of newly displaced persons, as a result of the high level of insecurity.”²

In November of 1998, MONUA reported that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Angola had tripled in the last three months, amounting to 331,000 new IDPs in a 90 day period.³

The United Nations Mission in Angola (UNMA) estimated that 4 million people were displaced in Angola.⁴

The Governor of Bie Province announced that 300,000 displaced persons would be settled in the province in predetermined areas that were being demined by the Hallo Trust demining company.⁵

Thousands of displaced persons in Longonjo and Ukuma (west of Huambo) were voluntarily returning to their homes after hearing of the peace agreement signed on 4 April 2002.⁶

The Social Reintegration Minister estimated that between 4 April and mid-September of 2002 over 500, 000 displaced persons had left camps and shelters and returned home. The Government had allocated 2 million dollars for the resettlement of displaced persons.⁷

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Erick de Mull, reported that “two million people have been settled countrywide, through integrated programs of assistance.”⁸

“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III),” U.N. Security Council (S/1995/1012), December 7, 1995.
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA),” U.N. Security Council (S/1998/524), June 17, 1998.
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA),” U.N. Security Council (S/1998/1110), November 23, 1998.
“Interim report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Angola,” U.N. Security Council (S/2002/1353), December 12, 2002.
“Angola: Bie Authorities to Resettle 300,000 War-Displaced Persons,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, April 17, 2002.
“Angola: Internally Displaced Persons Return Voluntarily to Areas of Origin,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, May 15, 2002.
“Angola: Over 500,000 Displaced People Return Home,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, September 30, 2002.
“Angola: One Million Displaced People Back Home,” Africa News, December 12, 2002.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2003

Authorities in one province, the Northern Kwanza-Norte Province, reported that 45,000 displaced people (out 104,318 in the area) had been resettled in their areas of origin.⁹

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (OCHA) reported that there were 2.4 million displaced people remaining in Angola, half of which were scheduled to return home within several months.¹⁰

“Angola: Kwanza-Norte: Over 40,000 Displaced People Resettled,” Africa News, October 14, 2003.
“Angola: Almost 2.5m Still Displaced But 1m Expected to Return Home Soon,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, March 14, 2003.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2004

Around 425,000 displaced people in Benguela were re-settled in Huambo, Bie, Kwanza-Sul, Namibe and Huila Provinces.¹¹

“Angola: Some 425,000 Displaced People Leave Benguela Province,” Africa News, February 4, 2004.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2005

A joint assessment conducted in 2005 by the United Nations and the Angolan Government reported that since the ceasefire of 2002, four million internally displaced persons (IDPs) had returned home; only 91,000 remained.¹²

“Angola: Ongoing Challenges Facing Almost 100,000 Displaced,” Africa News, October 5, 2005.