Menongue - At least 33,000 peasant families of Southern East Kuando-Kubango province are affected by drought that has been hitting the region and destroyed some plantations, Angop has learnt.

A press note delivered to Angop states that drought hits the Municipalities of Cuangar, Cali, Dirico, Kuchi, Mavinga and Nancova.

The document was delivered by the chief of the Technical Unit of Co-ordination of Humanitarian Aid (Utach), Augusto Chicanho, who added that some animals have been destroying plantations of manioc and sweet potatoes.

Cabinda - Health authorities in Northern Cabinda have announced the existence of cholera outbreak, due to diharroeas cases in the capital city of the province, Angop has learnt.

This was disclosed by the provincial secretary of health, Carlos Zeca, who explained that this can be confirmed through the laboratory exames done in Luanda.

Carlos Zeca said that the first cases were recorded on April 29, 2013, totalising currently 89 cases with six deaths, being three at home and the rest in hospitals.

Menongue – Some 75. 159 children, under the age of five, were immunised against poliomyelitis in Menongue municipality, south-eastern Kuando Kubango province, during the vaccination campaign held over the last weekend.

This was said to Angop on Tuesday by the director of the local health sector, Carlos António Jonas.

He considered positive the campaign, having into account that figures overcame the expectations, thanks to the role played by the teams involved in the awareness campaigns.

Angola, Ondjiva – The director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in southern Cunene province, Dinis Pedro Pacavira, said Thursday in Ondjiva that measures are being taken to help the peasant populations affected by the drought hitting the region in the 2012/2013 agricultural season.

According to the official, the scarcity of rains currently noted in the province has led to a failure in the agricultural production, which is threatening the harvest of the main crops.

Menongue - Rain shortage in Kuito Kuanavale, south-western Kuando Kubango Province, over the last days may hinder harvest in the region, said the local head of the agriculture department, Fernando Tchipengo.

According to the source, this situation may put at risk the harvest of maize and other cereals, although the peasants have received tools for the foment of agricultural production.

The peasants also received seeds of maize, beans, cereals, as well as fertilizers, under the programme of fight against hunger and poverty.

Songo - At least 93 families were displaced after heavy rains destroyed 31 homes in Zulumongo in Songo district, nothern Uíge province.

According to the local chieftain, Pedro Miguel Bambi, in addition to residences the storm injured an old woman.

Songo district is located 40 km north off the province's capital, Uíge.

Heavy rain destroys five houses in Njele

Kuito – At least five houses built of local materials in the neighborhood of Njele collapsed in Kuito district, central Bie province, as a result of the heavy rains that hit the town, ANGOP learnt on the spot.

According to the citizen Faustino Caliata, heavy rains caused the destruction of all their possessions and are currently accommodated with some relatives in the neighborhood of Njele.

The residences were built of adobes and zinc plates.

Luau – Forty five families are homeless in the municipality of Luau, eastern Moxico Province, due to the rains befalling the region, announced Thursday the assistant administrator of the municipality, Nora Mahongo Isaac.

Speaking to ANGOP about the situation of victims in Luau, Nora Mahongo Isaac, who is also coordinator of the Municipal Civil Protection Commission, said most families are sleeping in the open and others were accommodated by their relatives.

Dundo – Over eleven square million metres of land were demined last year in the north-eastern Lunda Norte Province, in operations carried out by the region’s demining brigades.

These data come on an assessment report from the local branch of the National Demining Institute (INAD) read to the press in Dundo City, by the head of department of the mentioned institution, Sapalo Rufino, after closing of a seminar designed to update the demining techniques, which lasted two weeks.