U.N. moves to save lives in stricken Angolan town

LUANDA, Angola (Reuters) -- The United Nations said on Tuesday its agencies would move this week to stem a humanitarian disaster unfolding in the isolated Angolan town of Luau, where about 10 people a day are reported to be starving to death.

"U.N. agencies will respond urgently this week to alleviate the alarming humanitarian conditions occurring in the municipality of Luau, and to plan for the future well-being of the people there," it said in a statement.

"The U.N. plans to dispatch this coming week an inter-agency assessment mission...(including) an initial load of food, medical and other assistance."

The United Nations said last week that seven to eight children and three to four adults were dying each day in the town, which lies in the country's east, near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The town of 9,000 has been swollen by an unknown number of refugees fleeing conflict in Angola and across the border in the Congo.

Poor security in the area has kept the town isolated and aid agencies at bay.

Angola's civil war between the government and the UNITA rebel movement has rumbled on for the past 25 years. Around a million people have been killed in the fighting and millions more have been uprooted from their homes.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For more Africa news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about Africa

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.