WRITTEN QUESTION E-0689/01 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The situation in Angola.
Date: 2001-03-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Angola, EU aid, forced migration, humanitarian aid, public health, the EU's international role

C 340 E/68

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

The Member States are required to notify areas that meet the scientific criteria of the habitat and bird
protection Directives for Natura 2000. This obligation is the responsibility of
the Member States(cid:146)
authorities and the Commission is not in a position to indicate if and why the areas in military use were
excluded. The Commission is of the opinion that these areas must be notified for Natura 2000 where their
ecological characteristics so require.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2001/C 340 E/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0689/01

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 March 2001)

Subject: The situation in Angola

A report by the NGO (cid:145)MØdecins sans frontiŁres(cid:146) published in November 2000 (Angola: unassumed
responsibilities (cid:129) a people on the verge of the abyss) sets out the testimonies of displaced Angolan
civilians and details the deterioration in the health of the displaced (76 % of the population have no access
to health care) and the danger and difficulties faced in obtaining humanitarian aid from the outside, thanks
to a government-imposed ban.

The mortality rate for children under five is 292/1000, and life expectancy at birth has fallen from 47 in
1970 to 42 today.

The UN, meanwhile, appears to have abandoned the principle of fair and equal humanitarian access to the
parties in conflict.

If the above figures are confirmed, what measures does the Commission intend to adopt to alleviate this
situation?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2001)

The Commission is aware of the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in Angola and has been actively
providing support to alleviate the suffering of the populations. In spite of an improvement during late
1999 and 2000, when the government obtained control of a significant part of the territory, security and
access remain affected and there have been no significant breakthrough in reversing the humanitarian
crisis.

EC support is currently targeting, through the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), the
World Food Programme (WFP) and EuropeAid, both food and non-food aid to displaced populations with
a particular emphasis in the heavily war affected Central and Eastern Provinces. Furthermore,
the
Commission intends to continue to provide support in all areas of the country, as long as security
conditions allow it, and to accompany humanitarian assistance with support for transition to rehabilitation
and development.

The health situation of the displaced populations is particularly looked at by the Commission through
various ongoing actions. The Commission is one of the main partners in the health sector in Angola and
over 60 % of the ECHO funds approved for this country in 2000 were spent to respond to the emergency
health needs of the Angolan population. The Commission recalls that the Union(cid:146)s political objectives with
regard to Angola are set out in the Council Common Position of 19 June 2000 (1) (2000/391/CFSP). This
position addresses the issue raised by the Honourable Member by calling for securing safe and unrestricted
access to internally displaced persons by relief agencies in accordance with internationally accepted
humanitarian principles. The Commission, in co-ordination with the Member States, has been urging the
in particular, the re-establishment of local
Government to respond to the more immediate concerns;
administrations and the re-opening of road access appear to be critical to the improvement of the
livelihoods of population.

(1) OJ L 146, 21.6.2000.