The bitter harvest of war: continuing social & humanitarian dislocation in Angola

David Simon

Review of African Political Economy, 2001, vol. 28, issue 90, 503-520

Abstract: Angola's seemingly endless civil war has generated untold human suffering through death, injury, displacement and destruction. The social cost of the return to war after the elections in 1992, and again after the abandonment by UNITA of the Lusaka Accords in late 1998 has arguably been greater than previously. This paper examines the human cost of this latest period of fighting, focusing on the scale and nature of displacement, the collapse of infrastructure and services, and the very costly international humanitarian operation. Paradoxically, the crisis has worsened since the Angolan army's dramatic territorial gains against UNITA, as more displaced people become accessible and resources are stretched yet further. Economic dislocation is profound, health and educational indicators are alarming, while poverty is pervasive in both urban and rural areas. Resettlement and rehabilitation efforts are slow and limited; even if a durable and effective peace is eventually secured, the long‐term challenges of human recovery, social reconstruction and participatory development will be immense. Critical questions are raised about the likely nature of this process.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1080/03056240108704562

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