A serious flood is devastating the Dondo Cambambe Municipality, 180km southeast of Luanda in Angola. On 11th March, nine consecutive hours of rain has resulted in huge flooding, which is the third time this situation has come about since December last year.

The Dondo floods have destroyed a total of 1,584 houses and inundated 1,065 farms. The supply of drinking water to the region is cut off. The traffic between Dondo and the southern, northern and eastern regions of the country has also been interrupted.

According to yesterday’s press release from Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, churches and aid agencies have efficiently and promptly responded to the floods. Nearly two weeks after flooding, aid and supplies continue to pour into the region.

On 12th March, IERA (Reformed Evangelical Church of Angola), a member of ACT, sent an assessment team to the affected areas. The team determined that 16,691 people in three communities of the Dondo Cambambe Municipality were in need of assistance.

The team reported that many families lost belongings, and some are facing severe food shortages. As the water supply system has been cut off, people are forced to use the untreated water from rivers and streams which puts them at risk of diarrhoea and cholera. The crisis over the outbreak of waterborne diseases has been raised as the team observed stagnant water in the remaining flood area.

Many people are living in houses without proper roofs. Tents provided by the government in February cannot keep up with the demand. Schools have closed, and most of the furniture in them has been destroyed.

In face of the shortage of aid, ACT partners in the region are playing a very important role. ACT Coordinating Office in Geneva sent IERA US$25,000 in Rapid Response Funds on 15th March. The fund enables IERA to deliver to Dondo on 21st March the first shipment of food. IERA plans to distribute a monthly ration of food composed of 60 kg of rice or maize flour and four litres of vegetable oil. Its response will continue for three months.

IERA reported today that additional food and medicines will be purchased and transported to Dondo by this Friday. The medicines will comprise essential medical drugs required by the local hospital to help fight infectious diseases and reduce mortality rates among women and children.

Concerning the water supply, in collaboration with another ACT partners Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), a team of 14 people from IERA was trained to perform water treatment. The team is providing treatment supplies to families that are getting their daily water supply from rivers. So far, NCA has provided 20 litres of chlorine, but more will be needed.

In addition, IERA will distribute part of the contingency stock of used clothing of ACT member Lutheran World Federation in Angola to affected communities in Uige. The used clothing was donated by Canadian Lutheran World Relief, another ACT member.

As no appeal has been issued for this emergency at this point, other ACT members have pledged funds directly to IERA for its response.