P 260712Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4682
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY ROME 
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS LUANDA 000233 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
AIDAC 
 
USAID FOR DCHA/FFP PETERSEN, TAYLOR 
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA LUU, CONVERY, ROGERS, AND DENYSENKO 
USAID FOR AFR/SA LOKEN, COPSON, MACNAIRN 
DEPT FOR AF/S, INR/GGI, PM/ISP 
NCS FOR MELINE AND LEO 
PRETORIA FOR DISKIN, HALE, WESSEL AND USDA/REYNOLDS 
HARARE FOR PATTERSON, REED 
ROME FOR FODAG NEWBERG, BROOKS 
AFRICOM FOR JERRY LANIER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON EAGR MI
SUBJECT: ANGOLA SITUATION REPORT NUMBER 01 - FLOOD EMERGENCY ALERT 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Heavy rains that began in late January following an 
extended drought period have triggered severe flooding in Southern 
Angola.  In Cunene province on the Namibian border, 52,281 people 
have been affected, 26,915 of them displaced.  Six deaths have been 
reported, with an unknown number of missing and injured.  In 
neighboring Kuando Kubango province to the east, 29,162 people are 
reported displaced, along with eight deaths and four injuries. 
Relief response provided by the Angolan authorities has focused on 
Cunene's capital, Ondjiva, where major damage has occurred. 
Emergency response delivery in Kuando Kubango has been slower in 
that difficult-to-access province.  Other provinces are also 
suffering the effects of heavy rainfall, including Benguela, where 
on March 13 eleven people were killed and 700 displaced following 
severe storms.  Several other provinces - Moxico, Uige, Zaire, Lunda 
Sul, Lunda Norte and Kwanza Norte - are likewise at elevated flood 
risk, due to recent heavy rains. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. GOA RESPONSE TO DATE: The authorities have been relatively 
successful in keeping the situation under control in Cunene and 
Benguela; they have been less successful in delivering assistance to 
more isolated communities in Kuando Kubango.   In Cunene two camps 
have been established for more than 14,000 displaced persons.  Basic 
health care is being provided through fixed health posts within the 
camps and a mobile clinic for affected people on the outside. The 
displaced have been supplied with food, water, kitchen kits, 
blankets and shelter materials. Levees have been built to contain 
the flooding. In Benguela, the provincial authorities and the Civil 
Protection Service were able to react rapidly to incessant downpours 
that occurred from February 5 - 20, which were accompanied by gusty 
winds and flooding that resulted in 11 deaths and hundreds 
displaced.  According to the Head of the Civil Protection Service, 
General Laborinho, the situation in Benguela is being capably 
managed by authorities there.   In Kuando Kubango, although 
provincial authorities reported the arrival of some food and 
non-food items, such as tents and emergency medicine kits, the 
government's response overall has been slow, according to a report 
by a UN technical assistance team that accompanied government 
officials in the province last week. When asked, General Laborinho 
confirmed that it has indeed been more difficult to initiate relief 
operations in Kuando Kubango, due partly to the dispersed nature of 
the flooding as well as the hazards posed by landmines in the 
province. 
 
¶3.  INTERNATIONAL and NON-GOVERNMENTAL RESPONSE: In the absence of 
an appeal by the GOA, the international community's response has 
been relatively muted. In Cunene, agencies of the United Nations 
have been assisting authorities with establishment of camps and 
managing the displaced population's health needs.  A worrisome sign 
has been a surge in cholera, with the province registering 43 
percent of the 3,019 cases reported nationwide by WHO between 
January 1 and March 9.  UNICEF has been working with the Provincial 
Health Department, the NGO ADPP, scouts and the Angolan Red Cross to 
develop a social mobilization plan for the camps and affected 
communities that focuses on malaria, cholera and basic hygiene. 
USAID/OFDA financial support provided last year to UNICEF to fight 
cholera has contributed to this effort through the provision of 
supplies.  In both Cunene and Kuando Kubango, some 10,000 
impregnated bednets have been distributed.  WFP has made available 
320 metric tons of food from its stock, but it has not been 
distributed as yet.  Many of the displaced are being sheltered by 
family and friends, while others are temporarily in schools and 
being supported by donations from churches and community members. 
The Baptist Mission reported sending 500 zinc sheets and 3,000 
mosquito nets to Cunene to aid the recovery. 
 
¶4. WEATHER OUTLOOK: The SADC Drought Monitoring Center has forecast 
a high likelihood of above normal rainfall in central, southern and 
eastern Angola during the period January to March 2008. The 
continued rainfall means the flood threat will persist. 
 
¶5. USG MISSION RESPONSE:  The Mission Disaster Relief Officers have 
been monitoring the situation and providing regular updates to the 
Chief of Mission.  Information has been sought from government, UN 
agencies and local NGOs.   In Cunene, USAID implementer - Research 
Triangle Institute (RTI) - is working with the Provincial Department 
of Public Health to monitor malaria trends with the view to 
undertaking residual indoor spraying as circumstances warrant. 
 
¶6. POSSIBLE AREAS FOR ASSISTANCE: The GOA, as conveyed by the Head 
of its Civil Protection Service, welcomes assistance from outside 
agencies.  In addition to identifying short-term emergency 
requirements in Kuando Kubango such as shelter materials, kitchen 
kits, water/sanitation material, blankets, used clothes and food, 
General Laborinho expressed a strong interest in USG support for 
emergency preparedness training, risk mapping and public hazard 
education.  The GOA expects the emergency phase will last until May. 
 The government has publicly committed to resettling thousands of 
families in homes in less flood-prone areas, once the rainy season 
ends.  Food insecurity will be a continuing worry, especially for 
rural residents.  In Cunene up to 37,000 cattle are reported killed 
by the floods, and 74,000 hectares of agricultural fields destroyed. 
 In Kuando Kubango more than 2,070 fields have been ruined by the 
heavy rainfall and by elephant and hippopotamus movements triggered 
by flooding. OFDA technical assistance to assess potential recovery 
strategies for agriculture, livestock and other livelihoods may be 
warranted.  Mission will continue to monitor closely this emergency 
situation and apprise concerned Washington agencies of any 
recommended USG intervention and assistance. 
 
¶7. Mervyn Farroe is the Mission Disaster Relief Officer.  He can be 
reached at 244-222-641-008 (office) and 244-912-504-207 (mobile). 
Gastao Lukangu is the Alternate Mission Disaster Relief Officer.  He 
can be reached at 244-222-641-131 (office) and 244-924-694-034 
(mobile). 
 
MOZENA