Memories of Angola

28-04-2009 Photo Collection

Memories of Angola

Seven years after the end of the conflict that devastated Angola, the ICRC is scaling back its activities there. In July 2009 it will close its delegation in Luanda, but will continue to monitor the situation in Angola from its delegation in neighbouring South Africa. ICRC staff who worked in war-torn Angola as far back as 1975 share their memories.

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Huambo. Fighting destroyed much of the city

“In 1999, the first time we used the delegation bunker under UNITA* shelling, one of our Angolan colleagues named Nimy stayed with us. I told him to join his family but he said he would stay with us to try and protect us from UNITA fighters if they entered the city. I have never in my life had greater respect for a person than at that moment. In the days that followed, other Angolan colleagues stayed with us. We were all very moved.”

Carlos Batallas, head of Huambo sub-delegation 1998 -99

* UNITA: National Union for the Total Independence of Angola

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