The situation in Malange is tense and ominous, with shelling reported in and around the town. A number of war-wounded people have been admitted to the hospital there, where the ICRC, through its local staff, has distributed blankets and mattresses. Lack of security has prevented the ICRC from undertaking a planned mission to Malange. The ICRC has resumed activities in its orthopedic centers of Huambo and Kuito. Tracing activities, especially the exchange of Red Cross messages and efforts to trace and reunite unaccompanied minors with their families continue.
Efforts are under way to secure access to all persons held in connection with the conflict.
The ICRC is consolidating its operational capacity in Angola to better cope with the evolving situation there. It has increased the number of staff from 18 to 25. Furthermore, a considerable proportion of non-food items have been transferred from Luanda to Lobito to ease their dispatch to other parts of the country. In view of the gravity of the food situation in Angola, the ICRC is establishing an early warning system using both local and expatriate personnel, to monitor the food situation in the country in order to facilitate timely and effective responses to emerging needs. Concerning health activities, the ICRC aims to strengthen the surgical capabilities of hospitals, with Huambo hospital as a priority, by supplying them with materials to better prepare them for surgical emergencies and the treatment of the war-wounded.