ReliefWeb

IOM's relief effort to victims of flooding in the remote Cazombo district, in Angola's eastern province of Moxico is gaining momentum.

Sixteen tons of urgently needed corrugated iron sheets purchased with funding from the UN's Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF) are being flown today and tomorrow onboard an Angolan military plane from Luanda to Cazombo, some 200 kilometres from the Zambian border.

"The corrugated iron sheets will be distributed by IOM staff to vulnerable families, mostly internally displaced people, demobilized soldiers and returnees in Cazombo," says Katharina Schnoring, IOM's Chief of Mission in Angola. "We continue to work with the Angolan government and the UN Country Team to assess the needs of victims in remote areas of the district, but access remains very difficult, especially now that the rains have resumed."

So far, IOM teams have visited seven remote villages and registered 4,168 particularly vulnerable persons who will be assisted by the Organization to set up emergency shelters with plastic and corrugated iron sheets.

IOM is currently purchasing additional plastic sheets and tarpaulins in neighbouring Zambia, which will be transported by four-wheel drive vehicles to Cazombo.

"IOM is also looking at ways to provide seeds and tools to the flood-affected victims to help them resume agricultural work as soon as the waters recede," says IOM's Katharina Schnoring. "This will ensure the rapid resumption of agricultural production and improve self-reliance and food security."

More than two tons of children's clothing purchased with funds from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) were recently flown and distributed by IOM to families in Cazombo but with more than 17,000 people affected by the floods, needs remain significant.

IOM is also currently working with Angola's National Commission for Civil Protection to see how assistance can be provided to an estimated 1,000 flood victims in Menomgue, in the South-eastern Kuando-Kubango province.

Excessive rains since the second half of December have caused extensive localized flooding in other provinces, including Luanda, Lunda Sul, Lunda Nord, Uige, Benugela, Malange, Cabinda and Zaire.

For more information, please contact Katharina Schnoring, IOM Luanda, Tel: +244 912 207 362, Email kschnoring@iom.int