Details of Payment

Emergency: Severe flooding in Dondo Cambambe Municipality
Date of Emergency: March 2005

Details of the Emergency: Since January 2005 the Dondo Cambambe Municipality, which has a population of 100,000, has been inundated by heavy rainfall. The rain has been very intense during the last few days. On 11 March 2005, the heaviest down pour occurred for over nine hours consecutively causing severe damages to the affected communities. IERA sent an assessment team, which assessed the needs the following day and found 16,691 flood-affected people in three communes of the Cambambe Municipality. The rain has destroyed a total of 1,584 homes and water logged 1,065 farms. The remaining flood area constitutes stagnant water, causing an increase in waterborne diseases. Many families have lost their valuable possessions. Some households are facing a severe food shortage. The local hospital, which has a capacity of 60 beds, is now over crowded with children sharing beds. The hospital is also in short supply of essential medical drugs and basic equipment. The torrential rains have caused the disruption in the local water supply system, forcing the population to fetch untreated water from the local river and streams. This is having a direct impact on diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera. Many people are living in houses without proper roofs. The 20 tents provided by the government during the months of February cannot cope with the demand. Schools have closed and most furniture destroyed.

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US$ 25,000 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful ro receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment. As the situation is so severe an appeal may be forthcoming shortly.