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Angola: Humanitarian needs in drought-affected provinces "massive" as lean period approaches - IFRC

Countries
Angola
Sources
IFRC
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This Emergency Appeal seeks CHF 1,562,562 in cash, kind, or services to support the Angola Red Cross Society (CVA) to assist 12,000 households (60,000 beneficiaries) for 9 months, and will be completed by the end of August 2013. A Final Report will be made available by end of November 2013 (three months after the end of the operation).

CHF 100, 000 will be allocated from the IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support this operation. Unearmarked funds to replenish DREF are encouraged.

Summary: Drought is currently affecting 10 coastal and central highland provinces of Angola. Agricultural production has dramatically decreased and increasing water shortages have been reported. It is estimated that agricultural production will decrease by more than 400,000 tons nationally and an estimated 366,780 households (1,833,900 people) will be affected across the ten provinces. Incidence of acute malnutrition among children under age five has risen. The total number of acutely malnourished children in the ten affected provinces is currently estimated at 533,000. It is estimated that 20 per cent of these children could be suffering from severe malnutrition, corresponding to approximately 105,000 to 110,000 children, with a possible 20 per cent mortality rate, representing between 20,000 and 25,000 children.

While the government has not declared a state of emergency or officially called for international assistance, it has agreed to appeal for international support for the CVA. This Emergency Appeal is being launched based on a request from the CVA and with the information available at this time reflecting the assessment carried out by a RDRT Team in four of the most affected regions: Luanda, Kwanza Sul, Huambo and Bie. Based on the assessment, CVA wants to focus its intervention in Kwanza Sul, Bie and Huambo to support 12,000 households.

The key interventions planned include distribution food and agro inputs, production of IEC materials, community mobilisation and sensitisation, identification of children at risk of malnutrition, distribution of safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation promotion, distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLITNs), capacity building of volunteers and community resilience among others.

The needs are still massive and increasing especially as the food scarcity period (November to March) approaches. Up to now, there has been little response from the international community. The national elections which were held in August diverted attention away from the food security crisis. UNDP and other humanitarian agencies are actively engaging the government to ensure scaled up and speedy response, especially to support children at risk of severe malnutrition and farmers who need to plant urgently to be able to harvest the first crop in January. Against these risks, the National Society is appealing for urgent international assistance in order to reduce food insecurity in the most affected areas.