From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: MOZAMBIQUE: DISTRIBUTION OF HUMANIT
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 00:33:01 GMT

Title: MOZAMBIQUE: DISTRIBUTION OF HUMANITARIAN AID SPARKS CRITICISM


maputo, sep 1 (ips/basilio langa) -- the mozambique government
and the rebel mozambique national resistance (renamo) signed an
agreement in july to distribute emergency aid to all mozambicans
in areas affected by war and drought.

two months later, the two sides have not formalised any
accords with the donor community over practical questions on how
to actually dispense the relief.

at least 3.1 million mozambicans, from a population of about
15 million, are in need of emergency food aid this year alone,
according to government and u.n. figures.

more than 460,000 tonnes of grain are required for their
subsistence until the next harvest. most of the aid has been
pledged, and about 37 percent has already arrived in mozambican
ports.

but the figure of 3.1 million refers to people living in
accessible, which basically means government-controlled, areas.

''we still don't know what renamo's priorities are in terms
of the distribution of humanitarian aid'', says the chief u.n.
representative here, peter simkin.

mozambique's food crisis, due to the 17-year civil war
between the government and renamo, has been worsened this year
by the most severe drought in living memory, wiping out crops
throughout southern and central parts of the country.

under pressure from the international community and anxious
to reach all the people in the war-torn countryside, the two
belligerents promised not to attack convoys carrying food aid.

however, at renamo's insistence, convoys will only be safe
if they fly the flag of either the united nations or the
international committee of the red cross (icrc), and are not
accompanied by any military escort.

asked about the possibility of unprotected convoys being
attacked by armed groups outside the control of the government
or renamo, simkin, says this is a ''very delicate'' issue.

simkin says the donors are well aware of the existence of
armed bands acting outside of anyone's control. (more/ips)


mozambique: distribution (2)

under such circumstances, says simkin, ''the best solution
would be for the truck drivers to stop and give out aid to
whatever group of people it is that has approached them''.

renamo's political representative on the international
commission monitoring the 1990 partial ceasefire in the limpopo
and beira ''corridors'' says his movement is ready to guarantee
effective security to humanitarian aid convoys.

''we can order our forces not to attack'', says anselmo
vitor. ''however, we don't know if control will also be possible
on the government's side''.

mozambique's deputy cooperation minister, oldemiro baloi,
sees this as a ''technical question'' that should be resolved by
a committee, chaired by the united nations, which is supposed to
supervise implementation of the july agreement.

at a recent news conference here baloi, the government's
emergency programme coordinator, gave a negative assessment of
the committee's first month of activities which, he said, had
operated ''at an unsatisfactory pace''.

baloi said so far the implementation committee had not
organised a single convoy, although he had hoped to send one
into renamo zones immediately after the july agreement to
demonstrate the government's good faith.

the minister accused renamo of delaying appointing its
representative to the implementation committee, an accusation
vitor denies. vitor is currently in nairobi, the kenyan
capital, awaiting a visa to enter mozambique, says baloi.

baloi's criticisms hit raw nerves. simkin sees the minister's
remarks as ''unfortunate. things cannot simply be done from one
day to the next''.

simkin says he has held three meetings here with western
ambassadors on the committee -- united states, britain, france,
italy and portugal.

another three meetings were held with a working group, which
includes representatives of the government, renamo and the donor
community.

vitor says the visa was requested two weeks ago. the visa is
necessary because renamo representatives tend to travel on
foreign, usually kenyan, passports.

the icrc, on its part, says it has managed to send convoys
to some areas, but icrc reputy representative here, daniel
ausqueosburg, says these are outside the framework of the july
agreement and the implementation committee.
(end/ips/bl/pf/apc/oa/92)


-- 
Mr. Aaron Barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us -- posting from Evanston, Illinois