Benguela: At least 13,566 tons of assorted goods, mainly food, have been donated so far by various institutions and individuals throughout the country to the victims of the Cavaco River floods in the province of Benguela. This information was released on Thursday at a press conference in the city of Benguela by the spokesperson for the Provincial Civil Protection Commission, Fire Superintendent Nilson C©sar. On the occasion, the official praised the involvement of public institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, churches, and anonymous citizens in the humanitarian response to the victims.

According to Angola Press News Agency, as part of this mobilization, 13,566.84 tons of various goods have been received so far, including food and non-food items, of which 5,908.93 tons have already been used in the process of assisting victims in reception centers and in the composition of family reintegration kits. At this moment, there are 7,657.91 tons of various goods available in warehouses, with a view to supporting families in the reintegration process and assisting victims who are still in the only active reception center, that is, in the new Campsite.

Regarding financial donations, it was revealed that 57,223,535 Kwanzas were collected, of which expenses estimated at 45,260,219 Kwanzas were executed, leaving a balance of 11,963,315.49 Kwanzas available for the continuation of recovery actions and support for the affected families. It was also reported that the review of the data initially collected during the implementation of assistance actions revealed the existence of approximately 6,837 families who, for various reasons, had not been included in the initial registration process. "The technical teams updated the records, ensuring greater statistical accuracy and inclusion of the families actually affected," it was asserted.

The floods caused by the overflowing of the Cavaco River, which affected several riverside neighborhoods and part of the city of Benguela on April 12, resulted in 19 deaths, 51 injuries, and 31 missing persons, affecting a total of 16,151 displaced families, according to the recent report from the authorities. Official data also indicate the destruction of 1,570 houses, in addition to 3,873 damaged residences and more than 3,105 homes flooded by the flash floods.