21 June 2002
Karin Pretorius, WV correspondent
Damba, Angola - Today there was only one thing on the minds of Theresa
Tomas (45) and her five children as they stood in line for World Vision
food aid in Damba Village, 53 km from Malange - and that was a full stomach.
I found Theresa among hundreds of mothers waiting to register for World
Vision's food distribution program in Damba where they received a month's
supply of maize, oil and beans. She was a thin, fragile women with two
small babies and unmistakably malnourished daughters.
The 27 year old war had forced Theresa and her children to hide in the
bush near
Kahombo for four years. They survived by eating cassava roots, not known
for its nutritional value, but for its filling effect. They found it in
fields abandoned by
families who fled the terrors of war.
Theresa grew up in Bie Province where she never had to face the difficulties
her
children have to deal with today. She tells her story: "I got married
and had three
children, Carlito, Rita and Fina, and after that we were captured by UNITA
soldiers.
The twins, Paulo and Pensamento, were born in the bush. We were treated
very
badly and forced to work in their fields."
She explains that her husband was forced to go to war - a war he did
not want to fight. "He was killed on his first assignment."
That was two years ago. Since then the family has had to fight for survival.
On many occasions they had nothing to eat.
They arrived in Damba almost one and a half months ago. Today was the
first time they had received food aid. While Theresa was carrying both
the twins, Rita (11) and Fina (7) were carrying the heavy bags of food.
Fina was so weak she could barely walk, never mind carrying heavy bags.
Not once did she complain - the thought of having something to eat kept
her going.
According to Theresa, Rita and Fina are really sick. They are severely
malnourished and cannot stop coughing. She took them to the local clinic
two days ago, but only to find closed doors.
I followed them to their grass hut, approximately 3 km from Damba - a
strenuous walk for sick people. Carlito,19, is responsible for building
their hut, but grass fires in the area destroyed all useable grass, which
means an uncompleted hut without a roof. Luckily the weather is mild.
As soon as we reached their hut, they unpacked their groceries, and started
to prepare maize porridge.
I was invited to enter their, only to find one blanket, basic cooking
utensils (one pot, metal plates and spoons) and two pieces of fabric.
When I ask Theresa about her dreams for her children she says: "I
have dreams, but now I'm only living for today, trying to survive."
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