Rural Angola Research Paper

Introduction: Angola is a country located in Southern Africa that was plagued by civil war for decades. Over the many decades it has been estimated that four million Angolans were displaced having to leave their homes for to seek a safe environment. In 2012 these Angolan refugees, some of whom have been living abroad for decades, have lost their status as refugees in their host countries as a result of the improving conditions at home. However since the cessation of civil unrest the number of refugees and internally displaced Angolan persons has slowly been on the rise. Despite all of the improvements that have been made there still exists a very widespread poverty. Angola has been injured and scarred from the more than four decades of

According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 38 percent of the population does not have access to safe water sources. Only some 30 percent of people have access to government health facilities. Life expectancy at birth is estimated at 47 years (2010) and only 54 percent of enrolled children complete primary education. These statistics are worse for those living in rural areas. In rural Angola it is estimated that 94 percent of the population is living in poverty. Throughout the years of conflict a vast number of those who were internally displaced from their homes, more than three million people, were the people from rural communities seeking safety in the larger towns and

In the early 1970’s Angola supplied almost one-fifth of world coffee production, more than 200,000 tons of coffee beans each year. There exists a vast reserve of oil as well as vast reserves of natural diamonds. Their mineral resources are very desirable. This land provides a store of petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite and uranium. Each one of these natural resources can promise a flourishing economy for the people of Angola. Many of their once utilized resources are presently not able to be accessed. Take the fishing industry for example; once a lucrative business now at a virtual standstill. While Portugal was in control, wealthy Portuguese provided the boats, equipment and salaries for the Angolan fisherman. When Portugal gave the Angolans independence they sailed of in their ships. There is no longer enough boats to work with, there is little to no equipment therefore; this entire industry is unproductive in this region. These types of issues exist in more than one area of Angola’s economic situation. Investors from either outside of the country or the government, need to better fund this kind of industry as it will be have a healthy effect on the Angolan economy and reduce the amount of