As many as 15 people are dying of malnutrition every day in the northern Angolan city of Malanje.

The humanitarian sitution there has been described as a disaster both by the United Nations and by the Angolan government.

Unlike other cities, aid workers were forced to evacuate from Malanje as long ago as January when Unita rebels began a six-month shelling campaign.

The death rate has increased since foreign aid workers returned to Malanje two weeks ago.

From an initial count of three to four deaths a day, the aid agency Caritas has said that the real figure is closer to 15.

This is because emergency feeding programmes require several days to establish.

Malnutrition

The effects of feeding programmes have yet to be felt (NPA photo)

Aid workers have reported that malnutrition among the population is so severe that in some cases help has arrived too late.

Organisations like Medecins sans Frontières are currently working around the clock to get high-vitamin food into the mouths of starving children. At least 40% children under five weigh less than 80% of their expected body weight.

Despite the problems faced by the humanitarian agencies in Angola, some feel they have failed Malanje's population, estimated to be around 400,000.

One senior aid worker said: "We have failed in our jobs. Regardless of the problems with shelling and donors, both the government and the foreign aid community here have not done their best."

In his opinion, the logistics of supplying Malanje with food were never considered carefully enough.

As long ago as November last year it was clear that Angola was heading for a humanitarian disaster.