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In Brief
Appeal no. MDRAO002; Operations Update no. 1; Period covered: 29 January to 31 March 2007 (This update covers activities implemented using DREF support).
Appeal coverage: 27.3%; Outstanding needs: CHF 1,029,252 (USD 836,790 or EUR 623,789).
Appeal history:
- Emergency Appeal was launched 23 February 2007 for CHF 1,416,264 (USD 1,133,011 or EUR 874,237) for three months to assist 30,000 beneficiaries (5,000 households).
- Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 90,764 (USD 855,061 or EUR 639,771).
For the DREF Bulletin, please refer to: http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/06/MDRAO002.pdf
Related Emergency Appeal: Appeal no. MDRAO001 (Angola: Cholera)
Operational Summary: On 29 January 2007, the Federation allocated CHF 90,764 from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Angola Red Cross in responding to the needs of people affected by floods in Luanda. Following another spate of flooding in Moxico Province, the Federation launched an Emergency Appeal for CHF 1.4 million to assist 5,000 households for three months. Due to increased needs in Moxico, available relief items and funds were reallocated from Luanda and the two operations were merged. This report covers activities implemented in Luanda (prior to the launch of the appeal) and those implemented in Moxico (due to funding limitations and logistical constraints, they are yet to be completed).
This operation is aligned with the International Federation's Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".
Global Agenda Goals:
- Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.
- Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.
- Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.
- Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.
Background
On 21 January 2007, unusually persistent rains were experienced in Luanda Province, Angola. The resultant flash floods caused extensive damage to infrastructure in the Kilamba Kiaxi, Cacuaco, Samba and Ingombota municipalities. Bridges connecting municipalities of Bengo Province with the capital city, Luanda, were also damaged. A rapid assessment by Angola Red Cross, together with the Angolan Government, determined that 3,000 families were left without shelter, 11 people were missing and 117 were confirmed dead. The floods also exacerbated the already precarious public health situation and triggered an increase of cholera cases in the affected municipalities. [Angola Red Cross has been implementing an operation in response to the cholera crisis. Recently, the cholera emergency operation was extended until the end of June 2007 due to an upsurge in cholera cases. For more information on the cholera operation, please refer to Operations Update no. 6, which is available on the Federation's website at page: http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/06/MDRAO00106.pdf].
A task force led by the National Civil Protection Unit (CPU), of which the Angola Red Cross is a member, was established and became operational three days after the disaster struck. Through the CPU, the military and the police deployed search and rescue teams using helicopters and divers. Seven resettlement camps were identified and set up in the Cacuaco, Kilamba Kiaxi, Viana, Benfica and Cazenga municipalities. Approximately 4,000 people were safely relocated to the camps and were provided with tents, mattresses, blankets and other necessities. Communal latrines and water supply systems were also installed in all camps.
Due to the persistent rains, the floods extended to a number of other provinces in Angola, with Moxico Province (Cazombo and Alto-Zambeze) being the most affected. According to various sources, it is estimated that 49,586 people (about 5,000 families) in ten villages, were affected by the floods and needed urgent assistance. Most of the affected villages in Moxico Province were surrounded by water and roads were completely flooded. Two thousand eight hundred crop fields were submerged and the main source of food crop, cassava, was either destroyed by the rain or infested by pests. Communities resorted to using unsafe water from the streams, and as a result, an increase of malaria, diarrhoeal, skin and eye diseases as well as respiratory tract infection cases have been reported.
Logistical constraints were experienced during the initial phase of the operation since the affected area could only be accessed by helicopter; the National Society was completely dependent on the Civil Protection Unit in accessing affected areas. Despite commitment from the Civil Protection Unit to support the operation, most airlifts to Cazombo District had to be postponed (except for an assessment mission that was carried out from 6 - 12 March 2007), and relief items are still awaiting deployment to the flooded areas. However, the government has been distributing military food rations, medicine and some mosquito nets. The Angola Red Cross has also been able to mobilize CHF 250,000 worth of relief items from in-country partners.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
- In Angola: Varter Bombo Guange Quifica, Secretary General, Angola Red Cross, Luanda ; email: cruzvermelha@netangola.com; telephone: +244.2.33.39.91; fax: +244.2.39.11.70
- In Angola: Martin Acosta, Federaton Representative, Angola Delegation, Luanda; email: martin.acosta@ifrc.org; telephone: + 244.222.372.868; fax: +244.222.372.868
- In Zimbabwe: Françoise Le Goff, Federation Head of Southern Africa Regional Delegation, Harare; email: francoise.legoff@ifrc.org; telephone: +263.4.70.61 55; +263.4.72.03.15; fax: +263.4.70.87.84
- In Geneva: John Roche, Federation Regional Officer for Southern Africa, Africa Department, Geneva; email: john.roche@ifrc.org; telephone: +41.22.730.44.00, fax: +41.22.733.03.95
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org