Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lwena (Fides Service/Ans) – Twenty years of civil war left Angola devastated, mourning its dead, wasting away from malnutrition, faced with destruction. It is estimated that at least 15 million anti-personnel mines still lie under Angolan soil and the problem of internally displaced persons has still to be solved. Three years ago the Salesian Fathers opened a camp for these people at Lwena. In 2000 there were 7000 displaced persons in need of food, clothing, medical treatment, professional training. When the rebel leader Jonas Savimbi died in February 2002, the flow of refugees increased. So the Angolan government and humanitarian organisations decided to open a Transit Centre which they entrusted to the Salesian Missionaries. “We accepted and took up the challenge to restore hope to some of the many hopeless” Father Santiago Christophersen wrote in a letter. “When the war ended the distribution of food in the camps did not prevent us form carrying out our pastoral duties. Many lapse Catholics returned to the faith and the Sacraments. We provided assistance for about 15,000 including elementary schooling for adults and Oratory activities for the children”. In March 2002, the government asked us to re-open the transit camp for former rebel UNITA troops and their families. In one month 22 children were born and they were all baptised with names of Salesian saints at the request of the parents. In August 2002 the UN High Commission for Refugees asked the Centre to take returning Angolans from Congo. This month the Centre has already accepted 1.200 people. They can bathe, they are fed three meals a day they are informed about the danger of mines, how to prevent AIDS and the children can attend school.” (S.L.) (Fides Service 19/12/2003 – lines 20, words 305)
