J.B. Russell

Projects: Angola I - Truce & Consequences

On February 22, 2002 in the remote eastern province of Moxico, the UNITA rebel chief Jonas Savimbi was killed by a hail of bullets in a government ambush. An armistice and peace treaty quickly ensued, ending more than 27 years of brutal civil war. The country has been entirely laid to waste by the conflict. Tens of thousands of people displaced by the fighting live in temporary camps under dismal conditions. Angola's fertile lands, desperately needed for food cultivation, are riddled with landmines that kill and maim innocent civilians on a daily basis. When the guns fell silent, vast areas of the country that had been under UNITA control, and inaccessible to the outside world, opened up for the first time in years. The severe famine that was revealed was a direct result of UNITA pillaging, its forced use of the civilian population for support as well as the government's scorched earth military strategy in its final offensive against Jonas Savimbi and his rebels. Angola is enormously rich in natural resources, including oil and diamonds. Although the warring factions that have been fighting over those resources have at last signed a truce, it will be generations before the country overcomes the consequences of the conflict.

FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) soldiers on a patrol during military operations against UNITA rebels. Following several failed peace initiatives, the government mounted a major offensive against Jonas Svimbi's UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico in an attempt to end decades of civil war by military means.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) soldiers during military operations against UNITA rebels. Following several failed peace initiatives, the government mounted a major offensive against Jonas Svimbi's UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico in an attempt to end decades of civil war by military means.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) soldiers prepare to launch mortars during military operations against UNITA rebels. Following several failed peace initiatives, the government mounted a major offensive against Jonas Svimbi's UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico in an attempt to end decades of civil war by military means.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) soldiers near the front during military operations against UNITA rebels. Following several failed peace initiatives, the government mounted a major offensive against Jonas Svimbi's UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico in an attempt to end decades of civil war by military means.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) soldier during military operations against UNITA rebels. Following several failed peace initiatives, the government mounted a major offensive against Jonas Svimbi's UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico in an attempt to end decades of civil war by military means.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) soldiers detonate anti tank mines during a training exercise at the advanced command post military base in preparation for deployment to the front. After several failed peace initiatives the government mounted a major offensive against UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico in an attempt to end decades of civil war by military means.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Officers visit soldiers at the government's advanced command post military hospital. The soldiers stepped on landmines or were injured during fighting at the front against UNITA rebels. Despite vast reserves of petroleum, diamonds and natural resources, decades of fighting between FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) forces and UNITA rebels have impoverished Angola and crippled its people.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Civilians evacuated by helicopter from UNITA held areas as the government army advanced. During the Angolan government's decisive offensive against UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico, where rebel leader Jonas Savimbi was eventually killed, the government conducted a scorched earth strategy of displacing the civilian population, putting them in rudimentary camps and burning fields and villages to flush out the rebels. This strategy added to the millions of people already displaced by years of war and provoked a serious famine in many parts of the country.Luena, Angola.Photo © J. B. Russell
   
Civilians from UNITA held areas being brought by government soldiers to the advanced command post. During the Angolan government's decisive offensive against UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico, where rebel leader Jonas Savimbi was eventually killed, the government conducted a scorched earth strategy of displacing the civilian population, putting them in rudimentary camps and burning fields and villages to flush out the rebels. This strategy added to the millions of people already displaced by years of war and provoked a serious famine in many parts of the country.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
The government run MINARS reception center for internally displaced people. During the Angolan government's decisive offensive against UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico, where rebel leader Jonas Savimbi was eventually killed, the government conducted a scorched earth strategy of displacing the civilian population, putting them in rudimentary camps and burning fields and villages to flush out the rebels. This strategy added to the millions of people already displaced by years of war and provoked a serious famine in many parts of the country. Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
During the Angolan government's decisive offensive against UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico, where rebel leader Jonas Savimbi was eventually killed, the government conducted a scorched earth strategy of displacing the civilian population, many of whom had been fleeing the fighting for months and were on the verge of starvation, placing them in rudimentary camps and burning fields and villages to flush out the rebels. This strategy added to the millions of people already displaced by years of war and provoked a serious famine in many parts of the country. Muachimbo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A food distribution at the MINARS reception center for internally displaced people. During the Angolan government's decisive offensive against UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico, where rebel leader Jonas Savimbi was eventually killed, the government conducted a scorched earth strategy of displacing the civilian population, many of whom had been fleeing the fighting for months and were on the verge of starvation, placing them in rudimentary camps and burning fields and villages to flush out the rebels. This strategy added to the millions of people already displaced by years of war and provoked a serious famine in many parts of the country.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
During the Angolan government's decisive offensive against UNITA in the eastern province of Moxico, where rebel leader Jonas Savimbi was eventually killed, the government conducted a scorched earth strategy of displacing the civilian population, many of whom had been fleeing the fighting for months and were on the verge of starvation, placing them in rudimentary camps and burning fields and villages to flush out the rebels. This strategy added to the millions of people already displaced by years of war and provoked a serious famine in many parts of the country. Muachimbo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
MAG (Mines Advisory Group) de-miners marking mine fields near heavily populated areas. Decades of civil war have riddled Angola with landmines that crippled civilians and prevent much needed land from being cultivated.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Despite vast reserves of petroleum, diamonds and natural resources, decades of fighting between FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) forces and UNITA rebels have impoverished Angola and crippled its people. Landmines contaminate the countryside and render land much needed for food cultivation useless.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A landmine victim dances during festivities for the International Day of the Disabled. In a country that has been wracked by decades of civil war, this day takes on particular significance. Despite vast reserves of petroleum, diamonds and natural resources, decades of fighting between FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) forces and UNITA rebels have riddled Angola with landmines, impoverishing and crippling its people.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Landmine victims waiting at the Vietnam Veterans Association Foundation (VVAF) workshop to have prosthetic limbs fitted. Despite vast reserves of petroleum, diamonds and natural resources, decades of fighting between FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) forces and UNITA rebels have riddled Angola with land mines, impoverishing and crippling its people.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Landmine victims learning to walk with newly fitted prosthetic legs at the Vietnam Veterans Association Foundation (VVAF) workshop. Despite vast reserves of petroleum, diamonds and natural resources, decades of fighting between FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) forces and UNITA rebels have riddled Angola with landmines that cripple and impoverish the country's population.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Landmine victims are omnipresent in Angolan society. Despite vast reserves of petroleum, diamonds and natural resources, decades of fighting between FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) forces and UNITA rebels have riddled Angola with landmines, impoverishing and crippling its people.Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
MAG (Mines Advisory Group) de-miners prepare a controlled demolition of cleared land mines and unexploded ordinance (UXOs). Decades of civil war between government FAA (Forca Armada Angolana) forces and Jonas Savimbi's rebel army have littered Angola with landmines and UXOs that cripple and impoverish the country’s population. Luena, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Following the death of Jonas Savimbi a ceasefire between UNITA rebels and government armed forces was signed on the 4th of April 2002 ending 27 years of civil war. The long conflict devastated the country and caused a humanitarian disaster. Little remains of the country's infrastructure, towns, hospitals or schools.Kuito, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Demobilized UNITA soldiers sing and dance "La Rumba" at a dawn assembly in their quartering area. 4045 demobilized soldiers and their 25,000 family members live in the quartering area waiting to be integrated into the government armed forces or to return to civilian life.Sambo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Demobilized UNITA soldiers during the selection process for integration into the Angolan government armed forces (FAA). There are 4045 demobilized soldiers and 25,000 family members that live in this quartering area. 156 will be integrated into the army, the rest will return to civilian life.Sambo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A third of Angola's population has been displaced by the country's long civil war. Tens of thousands will be returning to their villages from Internally Displaced Person's camps to start planting before the rainy season begins. However, in remote villages like this one, inaccessible during the rainy season, there is nothing to eat, no seeds to plant, no medical care and the land is riddled with landmines.Sambotto, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Civilians suffering from severe malnutrition at a MSF therapeutic feeding center. A serious famine situation was discovered in large areas of the country that had been under UNITA control following the signing of the peace treaty, a direct result of the long civil war.Kuito, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A child suffering from severe malnutrition being treated by medical personnel in the intensive care unit at a MSF therapeutic feeding center. The military strategies of the government armed forces and UNITA rebels toward the civilian population caused widespread devastation and a serious famine situation in the country. Aid organizations have had access to large portions of the country only after a cease-fire was signed in April 2002.Bailundo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A mother with her severely malnourished children at a MSF therapeutic feeding center. The military strategies of the government armed forces and UNITA rebels toward the civilian population caused widespread devastation and a serious famine situation in the country. Aid organizations have had access to large portions of the country only after a cease-fire was signed in April 2002.Bailundo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A severely malnourished child is treated at a MSF therapeutic feeding center. The military strategies of the government armed forces and UNITA rebels toward the civilian population caused widespread devastation and a serious famine situation in the country. Aid organizations have had access to large portions of the country only after a cease-fire was signed in April 2002.Bailundo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A child suffering from severe malnutrition is carried to the intensive care unit at a MSF therapeutic feeding center. The military strategies of the government armed forces and UNITA rebels toward the civilian population caused widespread devastation and a serious famine situation in the country. Aid organizations have had access to large portions of the country only after a cease-fire was signed in April 2002.Bailundo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A severely malnourished child is treated at a MSF therapeutic feeding center. The military strategies of the government armed forces and UNITA rebels toward the civilian population caused widespread devastation and a serious famine situation in the country. Aid organizations have had access to large portions of the country only after a cease-fire was signed in April 2002.Bailundo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A medical technician examines a child suffering from severe malnutrition in the intensive care unit at a MSF therapeutic feeding center. The military strategies of the government armed forces and UNITA rebels toward the civilian population caused widespread devastation and a serious famine situation in the country. Aid organizations have had access to large portions of the country only after a cease-fire was signed in April 2002.Bailundo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A mother weeps for her child who has just died of malnutrition at a MSF therapeutic feeding center. The military strategies of the government armed forces and UNITA rebels toward the civilian population caused widespread devastation and a serious famine situation in the country. Aid organizations have had access to large portions of the country only after a cease-fire was signed in April 2002.Caala, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A woman weeps for her child who died of malnutrition as the coffin is taken from a church to be buried. The military strategies of the government armed forces and UNITA rebels toward the civilian population caused widespread devastation and a serious famine situation in the country. Aid organizations have had access to large portions of the country only after a cease-fire was signed in April 2002.Caala, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A supplementary food distribution to families who are ready to return to their villages from a MSF therapeutic feeding center. The military strategies of the government armed forces and UNITA rebels toward the civilian population caused widespread devastation and a serious famine situation in the country. Aid organizations have had access to large portions of the country only after a cease-fire was signed in April 2002.Bailundo, Angola.Photo © J.B. Russell