About one million of the displaced have been forced from their homes during the past year of insecurity and war. There are various indications that malnutrition is on the increase. In Kuito, M decins Sans Fronti res Belgium reports a dramatic increase in the number of severely malnourished children. So far, Luanda has been the centre of the outbreak, but cases have also been reported in Bengo, Malange and Benguela. The Ministry of Health with support from the WHO has responded with an emergency vaccination campaign.
Malaria continues to be the leading cause of death among children.
In 1998 the Ministry of Health reported 15,000 malaria cases and 2,100 deaths among children under the age of 5 years. These figures only represent the cases recorded the actual number of deaths is likely to be much higher. The humanitarian effort is under severe strain. NGOs have no access to areas outside government control. In many places, growing insecurity means that aid can be delivered only by air.