ANGOLA AGRICULTURAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME IN HUAMBO
Giving people the means to overcome increasingly severe food shortages without making them dependent on food aid: such is the aim of the vast ICRC agricultural assistance programme launched in Huambo on 21 June.
The programme, which is to benefit both residents and displaced persons, will be carried out in two phases corresponding to the two growing seasons of the Angolan Planalto. The first phase, covering June and July, provides for the distribution of agricultural supplies to all the families concerned. Displaced families will also be given food aid.
Last week, 12,319 families in the town of Huambo each received a hoe, cabbage, onion, tomato, carrot and eggplant seed and 5 kilos of fertilizer. These supplies will be provided to a total of 34,437 families in Huambo and nearby villages. In addition, as from next week half-rations of food (maize, pulses, oil and salt) will be distributed every month to 45,947 displaced persons in Caala, Cuando and Calenga.
The second phase of the programme will begin in August with the distribution of agricultural kits (seed and fertilizer) and half-rations of food. This phase will last until the next harvest in March-April 2000.
Further information: Marjolaine Martin, ICRC Luanda, tel. ++2442 364 366
New on the ICRC Public Server - http://www.icrc.org : - Update 99/01 on ICRC activities in Uganda, dated 29.06.99
During the weekend of 3 - 4 July 1999, for all information please call the press officer on duty Juan Martinez, on (mobile) 41 79 217 32 17