CARE in Angola

CARE began working in Angola in 1989, when the country was still in the middle of a civil war.

In Angola we:

improve health care
provide access to clean water and sanitation
fight HIV and AIDS
build and repair infrastructure, such as roads
map and clear landmines so that more land can be farmed

An estimated 1.5 million people were killed in the conflict and more than 2 million people were forced to leave their homes. A ceasefire agreement signed in April 2002 brought an end to Angola’s civil war, but 27 years of conflict has left a long-term legacy of poverty.

CARE in action:

Landmines
Perhaps the most sinister legacy of the civil war in Angola is the many landmines that litter the countryside. Over half a million landmines and an additional 2 million unexploded devices are thought to remain buried throughout Angola, making farming dangerous and leaving large tracts of farmland uncultivable. We are tackling the problem of landmines by teaching communities about the dangers posed by mines and identifying minefields so that they can be cleared.

Rehabilitation and reconstruction
Our work in Angola has evolved from mostly emergency activities to longer term rehabilitation and reconstruction work. At the end of the war, we helped communities rebuild their lives, while former soldiers and people who had fled the fighting returned to their home areas. CARE International leads a joint programme carried out by of five development and relief organisations which helps people returning to villages. People who have just returned to their homes are given food, while cash-for–work programmes help them get back on their feet. Farmers are given seeds and tools to enable them to feed their families in the following year.