Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - 27 years of civil war in Angola between the government and UNITA rebels left deep scars on the country. The war which exploded in 1975 and ended in 2002 left over 600,000 people dead and over four million displaced. If we think Angola has a population of 10,766,000 this means over one third lives abroad in refugee camps completely dependent in international humanitarian aid. However recently with the help of international organisations many Angolans have returned to the country.
The farming system has collapsed with 10 million landmines all over the country. Food for thought: 85 % of the people are farmers, but they produce on 8% of the NGP. They are in fact subsistence farming families working small plots with rudimental tools.
Another cause of suffering is AIDS. An estimated 350,000 people are HIV+ (5.5% of the adult population). Life expectancy is 36.13 for men and 37.83 women
The annual income per head is 1,700 dollars. Angola has a foreign debt of di 10. 87 million dollars 366.55 % of the GNP.
This is scandalous in a potentially rich country like Angola: 5,691 million barrels of oil, natural gas 79.57 billion cubic metres. The country also has diamonds, gold, phosphate, bauxite and uranium. Since the civil war ended, foreign investors are beginning to put money into the country to improve its economy. (Agenzia Fides 11/11/2005 righe 27 parole 347)
