MAF in Angola
Since 1989, MAF has been using a Cessna Caravan to provide essential support for NGOs, missions and churches in the drought stricken and war-torn country of Angola.
Having gained independence from Portugal in 1975, Angola erupted into a civil war which lasted 27 years. MAF began operating in Angola in 1989 in the midst of war.
Angola is slowly emerging from the effects of war and has been officially at peace since 2002. However up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the years of fighting.
The needs are great
Over four million Angolans are without health care of any sort. According to one doctor the level of health care for most Angolan women is equal with that of a woman in 16th century England. MAF has a huge opportunity to share the love of Christ by meeting the physical needs of the people.
Another big problem is landmines. There about 11 million people in Angola and the same number of landmines scattered around the countryside making farming in some areas extremely risky. One of the agencies MAF flies for, HALO Trust, estimates that to clear the landmines from only three villages will take 5-10 years.
Brief facts about MAF in Angola
- There is one aircraft - a Cessna Grand Caravan.
- There are 4 international staff (job holders) and 7 national staff
- There is one base in Lubango
Types of flying MAF does in Angola
- Medical
- Church
- Relief and development
- Mission
Examples of organisations served in Angola
- Acçâo Internacional Contra a Fone (AICF)
- American Presbyterian Congo Mission
- CEML (Evangelical Medical Centre of Lubango)
- HALO Trust (de-mining organisation)
- Intersos
- Norwegian People’s Aid
- Red Cross
- Rise International
- Samaritan’s Purse
- SIM
- WEC
Demographics
Angola has the 18th lowest Human Development Index rating in the world
- Population: 12.531.357 (UK: 61 million)
- Birth rate: 45 births/1,000 population (UK: 11 births/1,000)
- Life expectancy at birth: 38 years (UK: 79 years)
- Population under 15 years: 44% (UK: 17%)
- High infant mortality: nearly 1 in 5 ( 1 in 5.485) die at birth (UK: 1 in 200 die at birth)
- Population below the poverty line: 70%
- HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 3.9% of population (UK: 0.2%)
- Literacy rate: 67% (UK: 99%)
Infrastructure
Angola’s infrastructure is slowly undergoing reconstruction after years of civil war, but much remains damaged or undeveloped. With landmines still widespread in rural parts, overland travel can be both difficult and dangerous
- Area of the country: 481,354 sq miles (UK: 94,525 sq miles)
- 31,957 miles of roads, but only 3,324 miles of paved roads (UK: 241,104 miles – all paved)
- 232 landing strips of which only 31 are paved
Economy
Angola’s economy is rapidly growing following the end of the civil war in 2002, largely through expansion in oil. Despite Angola’s richness in natural resources, subsistence agriculture is the livelihood for half the population.
- 85% of the population employed in agriculture, fishing and forestry
- Main exports include crude oil, refined petroleum products, gas, diamonds, coffee, sisal (plant used in making ropes), fish and fish products, timber, and cotton
Environment
Angola’s narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to a vast interior plateau
- overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures
- desertification
- deforestation of tropical rain forest because of international demand for tropical timber and domestic use as fuel
- soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams
- inadequate supplies of drinkable water
Climate
A country with a twin climate; semiarid in the south and along the coastal plains, the north has a cool dry season and a hot rainy season which creates natural hazards
- Locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Religion
Following the end of a Marxist regime which attempted to eradicate Christianity, discrimination against Christians has now eased
- Indigenous beliefs: 47%
- Roman Catholic: 38%
- Protestant: 15%