P 171434Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5374
INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USEU BRUSSELS
USMISSION UN ROME 
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
NSC WASHINGTON DC
SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

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