DATE=7/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-252003
TITLE=ANGOLA ASSISTANCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ANGOLA HAS TOLD A UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE IN GENEVA
THAT IT IS STARTING A PROGRAM TO HELP THOUSANDS OF INTERNALLY
DISPLACED PEOPLE BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT IN FOOD PRODUCTION. IT
IS REPORTED TO BE THE LARGEST ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF ITS KIND EVER
UNDERTAKEN BY THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT, AS LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS .
TEXT: ANGOLA'S MINISTER OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE AND REHABILITATION,
ALBINO MALUNGO, SAYS THE SITUATION OF PEOPLE IN ANGOLA HAS
WORSENED MARKEDLY SINCE CIVIL WAR RESUMED LAST OCTOBER. HE IS
ATTENDING THE U-N'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, NOW MEETING IN
GENEVA.
/// OPT ///
MR. MALUNGO SAYS THREE MILLION PEOPLE IN ANGOLA ARE AFFECTED BY
THE CONFLICT -- AND NEARLY TWO MILLION OF THEM ARE HOMELESS. HE
SAYS THOUSANDS ARE LEAVING THE RURAL AREAS FOR THE CITIES. THIS,
HE SAYS, IS CAUSING SEVERE OVERCROWDING AND PUTTING A STRAIN ON
BASIC SERVICES.
/// END OPT ///
THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT MINISTER ACCUSES THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY OF ABANDONING HIS COUNTRY. HE SAYS DONORS HAVE
CONTRIBUTED 30-MILLION DOLLARS -- LESS THAN A THIRD OF WHAT HE
SAYS ANGOLA NEEDS FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. HE SAYS IT IS A
STRUGGLE TO FEED ALL THE PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP. THEREFORE, HE
SAYS, HIS GOVERNMENT HAS ESTABLISHED A NEW AGRICULTURAL POLICY
UNDER WHICH ARABLE LAND WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO INTERNALLY
DISPLACED PEOPLE AND OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS.
/// MALUNGO ACT ///
... AND WE WILL GIVE AGRICULTURAL TOOLS AND THE MEANS
FOR AGRICULTURAL WORK IN TERMS OF PREPARING THE LANDS.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF THAT GOES WELL, NEXT YEAR WE
WILL ASK FOR LESS FOOD FROM THE (U-N'S) WORLD FOOD
PROGRAM AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BECAUSE PEOPLE
WILL WORK. AND THE RAINY SEASON FROM LAST YEAR WILL BE
VERY GOOD AND WE HOPE THIS YEAR WILL BE ALSO GOOD.
/// END ACT ///
THE 60-MILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM WILL BE RUN IN SIX ANGOLAN
PROVINCES IN AREAS CONSIDERED TO BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED FROM THE
WAR. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT BEGAN THIS MONTH AND WILL
RUN THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
ANGOLA'S GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO DISTRIBUTE 800 HECTARES OF
ARABLE LAND TO HOMELESS PEOPLE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CAPITAL,
LUANDA, AND OTHER LARGE CITIES SUCH AS LOBANGO AND MATALA. NEXT
YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT WILL EXPAND THE PROGRAM.
/// REST OPT ///
MINISTER MALUNGO SAYS THE SITUATION IN ANGOLA IS BOUND TO GET
WORSE THE LONGER THE WAR GOES ON. HE SAYS ANGOLA CAN'T COUNT ON
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE ALL THE HELP IT NEEDS.
THEREFORE, IT HAS TO FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS FOR ITSELF. HE SAYS
WHILE THE LAND DISTRIBUTION POLICY WON'T HELP EVERYONE, IT IS
HOPED THAT THE PROJECT WILL REDUCE FOOD AID DEPENDENCY AND
IMPROVE THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
VULNERABLE PEOPLE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF/GM
21-Jul-99 12:13 PM EDT (1613 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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