ReliefWeb

The Government decided today to commission the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) to contribute a total of SEK 80 million to the 2003 UN appeal for Angola. The UN appeal includes support for food safety measures, health care, protection and education for people in need, as well as security measures and coordination of humanitarian operations.

Sweden is also participating in acute reconstruction efforts in Angola. A grant of SEK 19 million will therefore be allocated to the World Food Programme (WFP) for the reparation of bridges and roads. This project will be carried out by the Swedish Rescue Services Agency.

The Swedish contributions, which are intended for both reconstruction projects and acute humanitarian needs, will be distributed as follows:

• SEK 20 million to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
  
  
• SEK 11 million to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA)
  
  
• SEK 20 million to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
  
  
• SEK 10 million to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  
  
• SEK 4 million to the Lutheran Association
  
  
• SEK 4 million to the Norwegian Refugee Council and
  
  
• SEK 2 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

"The scale of humanitarian needs in Angola is considerable. Since the war ended in April 2002, some 3 million people are in need of acute humanitarian aid. Some 850,000 internal refugees have now returned to their native districts - districts which often lack basic services. Urgent measures are needed to help these people", says Minister for Development Cooperation, Jan O. Karlsson.

"However, the Angolan Government has the ultimate responsibility for the humanitarian situation and long-term developments in Angola. One condition for continued Swedish development cooperation is that the Angolan Government pursues development policies that benefit the entire Angolan population", says the Minister for Development Cooperation.