Since the early 1990’s Africa has constantly been engaged in some kind of war, it started with the Conflict in Rwanda and lead to a civil war in 1998. All of the fight has pushed people into other areas of Africa. The war official ended in July 2005 and people are starting to return to part of Africa such as the Congo. In many areas especially the East the fight destroyed home and lands that were once used for farming and growing livestock. International and local organizations have been providing aid to the people that have been affected. One program provided a village with land to farm and each family as a week that they care for the land. One organizer said that the farming program was a way for the people affected by the war to gain dignity again. The village has the support of advice and trade among farmers is very popular. The system that is set up provides little steps to sustain families. The only real disadvantage to this program is farms are able to produce more products to sell which creates competition and there are not real established rules for selling the goods. The government has not stepped in yet and need to establish some structure.
This news story shows the kinds of effect that war can have. This decade long conflict not only cost the country lots of money trying to restore order but also the news said the 5 million people were killed throughout the entire conflict. This causes problems when the country is trying to move forward. All of the destruction has not only caused psychological and monetary damage for the residence but has also destroyed the land. This is the bigger issue that the article highlights. Farming and raising livestock was the only real means for the production of goods. Due to this fact the Congo’s economic structure has been suffering and has been trying to get back on its feet. It has taken international aid and new programs but this year is the first year the citizens of the Congo are starting to see really improvements in the economy. With the improvements that are being made this could allow Congo to start producing raw materials for the rest of the world to use and rise its social standing.
http://www.euronews.net/2011/11/03/rwanda-harvesting-the-ruins-of-war/
1 comment:
It's bad that Africa is faced with such turmoil and it really affects how people view the country. Due to war, Africa is seen as a place with child soldiers, attacks everywhere and millions being killed and it's sad that this is reality for those living there.
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