Aziz Pahad, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, met this morning with Mr Jessen-Peterson, Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Peters, Director for the Africa Bureau of the UN and Mr Nicolas Bwakira, Regional Director for Southern Africa.
The UNHCR delegation is visiting several countries in the region to assess the shocking human tragedy that is unfolding because of the conflicts. The UNHCR delegation welcomed the recent peace initiatives taken by African leaders to end long standing conflicts, and most notably in Sierra Leone and the DRC which have created enormous suffering and displacement among the population. South Africa's efforts were highly appreciated as was the very good cooperation between South Africa and the UNHCR.
On Angola, the meeting noted the statement by Ms Bertini, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme that "their struggle to survive despite violence, hunger and disease has brought a level of despair that exists nowhere else in the world today. It is estimated that there are 1,7 million displaced people in Angola, 2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and the "condition" of a further 3 million people is unknown because they are completely inaccessible. Malnutrition is widespread and an estimated 200 Angolans die each day from diseases brought on by malnutrition".
Deputy Minister Pahad said "It is absolutely critical that the international community gives its full support - urgently and concretely - in order to consolidate these still fragile processes and move decisively toward peace. We must seize these emerging opportunities to bring the much needed stability to these countries and achieve solutions to the plight of the people".
He also called on the "International community to provide the necessary financial means to address the enormous humanitarian needs in Africa, where there are some 7 million refugees and displaced persons, more that in any other continent in the world. Unfortunately today we are witnessing a very serious and worrying under resourcing of our programmes in Africa where out of UNHCR's total budget of some US$300 million for 1999, up to 40% remains unfunded. As a result, acute basic humanitarian needs remain unmet in places such as the horn of Africa, Great Lakes region, West Africa and Angola".
In this context he urged that the "disturbing disparity in terms of international focus and attention we are witnessing between Africa and other situations elsewhere in the world be redressed".
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Pretoria
17 SEPTEMBER 1999