DECLARATION OF DISASTER - FLOODS IN ANGOLA

UNCLAS LUANDA 000166


AIDAC

USAID FOR DCHA/FFP PETERSEN, USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA DENYSENKO, CHAN,
CONVERY, POWERS, SHEPPARD
USAID FOR AFR/SA HARMON, COPSON, MENDELSON
DEPT FOR AF/S, INR/GGI, PM/ISP
NCS FOR PRATT
PRETORIA FOR DISKIN, HALE, RODGERS, WESSEL AND USDA/REYNOLDS
NAIROBI FOR ROBERT DRAPCHO
ROME FOR FODAG NEWBERG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EAGR MI PREL AO
SUBJECT: DECLARATION OF DISASTER - FLOODS IN ANGOLA

REFTEL: LUANDA 154


1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 4.


2. As a result of the severe flooding that occurred in mid-February
in southern Angola REFTEL (LUANDA 154),the Chief of Mission has
determined that the disaster is beyond the capability of the host
government to respond, is of sufficient magnitude to warrant US
Government assistance, and is in the best interest of the US
Government to respond. The Chief of Mission is, therefore,
exercising the Disaster Assistance Authority.


3. Heavy rains falling since early February triggered severe
flooding in southern and eastern Angola in the beginning of March.
Angola?s National Civil Protection Unit reports that at least 51,000
people have been affected in the province of Cunene in the
localities of Kahama, Cuvelai, Kuanhama, Namakunde, Ombadja and
Xangongo. UNICEF officials in Cunene report four deaths, 9,682
houses destroyed, 13,292 families affected, and 138,148 hectares of
productive land flooded, with extensive livestock and crop losses.
The Provincial Director of Education reports that most classes are
suspended, since schools are being used for emergency shelters or
are isolated. The Angolan representative of the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said some
150,000-160,000 people have been affected in an area still
recovering from severe floods in 2008. The Government of Angola is
trying to repair the main road to Namibia, a road that was destroyed
by the floods. Furthermore, the roads in Cunene Province between
Ondjiva-Cuvelai-Kahama and Mupa have been destroyed, as well as the
road between Cuvelai and Xangongo and Cuvelai and Kupateti. Angola?s
office of Civil Protection is evacuating people and transporting
material by boat and helicopter in these areas. The two camps
established in Cunene for internally displaced persons during the
2008 floods are fully occupied; this year?s flood also caused many
camp wells and latrines to collapse, further aggravating camp
conditions.


4. Post requests that OFDA release $50,000 USDOLS for immediate
relief efforts. The Ambassador?s authority of $50,000 USDOLS will
be programmed through Catholic Relief Services (CRS),which is
already implementing development activities with USG funds in
southern Angola and is funding a development project in Cunene
through its local partner Caritas Angola, a Roman Catholic relief,
development and social service organization. The $50,000 will be
used to purchase blankets, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, and shelter
materials.


5. Additional funds may be required for further disaster response
and post-flood recovery interventions to reduce the economic impact
(e.g., agriculture recovery, shelter assistance, and other critical
activities).


6. Official acceptance of assistance has been conveyed by the Head
of the Civil Protection Unit and the Provincial Governor of Cunene,
who welcome assistance from outside agencies for short-term
emergency needs, including shelter materials, kitchen kits, hygiene
kits, water purification and sanitation equipment and material,
blankets, clothes and food.


7. Host-country agencies involved in relief operations are the
Ministry of Assistance and Social Reintegration (MINARS),the
National Civil Protection Unit, and provincial and municipal
authorities. A third camp has been opened by the GOA to accommodate
the influx of additional internally displaced persons. The GOA has
provided 200 tons of aid (food, non-food items and tents) to the
flood victims and has 185 tents available for deployment. Civil
Protection has six airplanes able to carry 40 tons of cargo. The
Civil Protection Warehouse in Cunene is under water; two large tents
will be sent to serve as a warehouse and operational base.
Additionally, 20,000 GOA-funded mosquito nets are being made
available, along with 3,000 sheets of zinc roofing sheets for
construction of 416 latrines in all camps. WHO has delivered five
tons of medicine kits valued at $27,325 for diarrhea treatment,
chloride for water cleaning and other emergency materials. UNICEF
is committing one water treatment unit capable of providing safe
water for up to 5,000 people a day, in addition to the unit already
available in Ondjiva. Additionally, UNICEF will provide four water
bladders (2 x 5,000 L and 2 x 10,000L) along with 28,000 jerry cans
for water storage, 100 bags (40 kg / bag) of HDH chlorine, 50 boxes
of water purification tables and 50,000 bars of soap.


8. Preliminary assessments by UNICEF, Catholic Relief Services, and
Oxfam indicate that access to clean water and food are the primary
concerns. The displaced families have beenaccommodated in tents
and some public schools with limited or no sanitation at all. Three
of the four reported deaths are hunger related. The floods occurred
at the peak of the hunger season, and the local population was
already food-stressed from last year?s floods. Local churches were
being approached for food assistance before the flooding began.
Both the floods and the food insecurity impede poor households?
ability to work in their fields and secure their livelihoods.


9. Because of the magnitude of the flooding, the US Mission requests
the assistance of a USAID/OFDA advisor to assess the situation and
consider the need for disaster response and recovery interventions.

10.The US Mission will follow-up with USAID?s Office of Food for
Peace on the possibility of providing P.L. 480 resources to
address food needs of the flood-affected population.

MOZENA