FRICA 2002: World Vision Adds Angola to Food Crisis Assistance

World Vision is expanding its southern Africa aid programme to take in Angola, as the upcoming rainy season in Angola is likely to cause a new humanitarian crisis.

World Vision's CEO, Helen Green says the peace agreement, signed in April, has opened the country up to much needed aid.

"Angola has been devastated by nearly 30 years of civil conflict, and we welcome the opportunity now of being able to help."

However, bad roads mean much of the population is not within reach of aid operations. Once the rainy season begins in late September, four fifths of the population in the Uige province in northern Angola are expected to find themselves isolated.

A UN official said medical care was the most urgent priority, in a region where sleeping sickness, malaria and leprosy are epidemic.

"I call Uige the forgotten region of Angola. Some people have been living under conditions of war for eight or nine years."

Furthermore, the displacement of peasant farmers across Angola as part of the military strategy of the government and UNITA rebels has caused widespread hunger.

World Vision Angola plans to support 100,000 families with the resettlement process during 2002. World Vision will provide family survival kits, tool kids and Ag Paks to save lives and assist the resettlement of displaced families prior to the 2002 planting season. Helen Green says emergency food aid is also being considered for Angola.