Secretary-General's remarks at camp for internally displaced persons (unofficial transcript)

My wife and I are very happy to be able to come here today to meet with you. Angola has one of the highest internally displaced peoples in the world. For you, the question of displaced people is not an issue of statistics, it's something that you know, you have lived this in your own lives. As a result of war, your lives have been up-rooted, you have had to leave your own communities and structures behind.

Now that peace is here, I hope that one of the dividends will be the choice for you to go back or settle wherever you want to do. As you have gone through what you have through in this war, I trust all of you and all Angolans are going to push for peace, consolidation of the peace that has been agreed to, so that you can pick up the pieces and rebuild your lives.

The UN and the international community will do all it can to help you and we are raising money to try and help Internally Displaced, working with the Government. And I am sure now that the war is ended and the Government doesn't have to spend money on wars, you will feel it in your own lives, as the Government and you focus on economic and social issues.

Anyway, let me tell you how impressed I am with your courage, your determination to carry on just by the difficulties you have lived through. And I want to pay a tribute to the women who have been the backbone of society when the men have gone to war with them being left behind with the children. Not only that, but the contribution you're making in society! I have no doubt that when we empower our women, educate our girls, they are able to make far greater contributions to society and everybody wins. I think it is of symbolic importance that the sculpture was given is that of a woman,* symbolizing the great role they play in this society and others.

So my dear friends, I wish you health, courage and strength as you pick up the pieces and rebuild your societies.

Muito Obrigado.

*The Secretary-General was referring to a wooden statue of a woman given to him as a present earlier.