A team from the African Union Commission (AUC’s) Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit recently undertook a joint mission together with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to assess drought situations in three provinces within Southern Angola. This followed by an invitation from the government of Angola from 22-29 April 2022.

After a series of meetings with the representatives of the government of Angola, the team first set off to Huila Province, where they were received by the vice-governor. The provincial authorities briefed the assessment team about the measures being undertaken towards addressing the impacts caused by the drought including strategies on water distribution, and countering malnutrition from a multi-sectoral approach.

In their visit to Huila, the team also came across a team from the Ministry of Forestry, which is working on a Billion trees for Angola (2022-2032). The team expressed their joy in meeting the joint team, citing their participation in the “A Billion Trees” campaign that is run by the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI). The GGWSSI is housed together with the DRR Unit, among other programmes under the Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE) Directorate of AU ARBE.

The team later visited Cunene Province and visited the CAFU water sanitation project, which was inaugurated in April this year. Under the CAFU project, several livelihood improvement projects have been started, such as goat and duck rearing, and agriculture. The team also hosted by the Cahama municipality’s administrator who stressed the importance of the need for stakeholders to address the current drought situation as a transboundary issue, and highlighted the need for countries to work together to combat the hazard. The team later concluded their provincial assessment in Namibe, and was addressed by the vice-governor who highlighted the difficult situation the community has faced in accessing food for consumption and pasture for their animals.

The team later had a wrap up meeting with Angola’s State Minister for Social Affairs, Hon. Carolina Cerqueira. The team shared their key findings and outcomes of their visit.

The AUC’s DRR Unit Technical Coordinator, Gatkuoth Kai, conveyed the greetings of H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) and thanked the Angolan government for the warm hospitality in hosting the delegation. He underscored the need to roll out the Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) for early action in the country to address the high nature of risk. On his part, the IFRC head of delegation, Itonde Kakoma, stressed the need the need for inclusive community participation in building resilience towards drought.

For media enquiry:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communications Directorate | African Union Commission|+251-911-630 631; Molalett@africa-union.org

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Gatkuoth Kai| Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction| Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, Department for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment | E-mail: KaiG@africa-union.org | WhatsApp: +251 909537884

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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