IOM has distributed agricultural tools, seeds and livestock to 242
ex-civil war combatants in Huambo Province as part of its Community
Stabilization Programme (CSP) in Angola.

The multi-donor project, which is funded by the World
Bank/IRSEM, Spanish Cooperation and the private Amoes Group, handed
over cows, ploughs, tools, and tomato, cabbage, onion and carrot
seeds to the beneficiaries. It also handed over 200 goats to 50
widows of ex-combatants.

IOM is also partnering with the Associação de
Solidariedade entre Deficientes (ASADEF) to help 30 handicapped
ex-combatants to access orthopaedic and other health services in
Huambo.

Since 2007, IOM's CSP has been empowering post-conflict rural
communities, civil society organisations and women's community
groups in Angola to improve their living conditions, reduce rural
exodus and realise some of their post-independence
expectations.

The CSP offers development opportunities, job creation and
training to post-conflict communities in Huambo, Kuando Kubango and
Moxico provinces by providing technical and institutional support
for the creation of sustainable community assets that enhance
community stability.

CSP projects have included the construction of a health centre,
kindergarten and canteen that will service 15 villages; the
construction of two wells; creation of a vegetable garden; and the
rehabilitation of a four-classroom school to serve up to 350
children.

"Many of these communities were torn apart by civil war for a
long period," says Katharina Schnoring, IOM's Chief of Mission for
Angola. "Through IOM's former Community Revitalization Programme
and the current CSP, we are able to assist and empower Angolans to
take pride in their rural communities, and to play an effective,
visible role in nation-building, as individuals and as
communities," she adds.

For more information, please contact:

Katharina Schnoring

IOM Angola

Tel: +244 222 311 273

E-mail: "mailto:kschnoring@iom.int">kschnoring@iom.int