Ondjiva — The National Defence minister, Cândido Pereira Van-Dúnem, has travelled to southern Cunene province on Tuesday, to learn about the plight of the victims of the rains that hit the region recently, leaving behind a spate of destruction.

On arrival in Ondjiva, the province's capital city, the minister was welcomed by the local governor, António Didalewa, and members of his staff, to whom he transmitted a message of solidarity from the central Government to the population of Cunene.

As part of his programme, the minister is travelling by helicopter to the localities of Mupa and Evale, district of Cuvelai and Kwanhama, respectively and to those of Enonakumba and Kashila where the victims of the floods have been relocated.

After the visits, Cândido Van-Dúnem will meet with the local governor and his staff. The minister is accompanied in the trip by staff from his office.

Angola's southern Cunene province has been visited by several members of the central Government, with highlight to the minister of Territory Administration, Bornito de Sousa, and the deputy minister of Interior for Civil Protection and Fire Service, Eugénio Laborinho.

This is the third consecutive year the province is hit by heavy rains and floods, affecting mainly the district of Cuvelai, breaking road connection with the capital city, Ondjiva. Until now, about 12,000 people have been affected by the floods. Of those 5,805 students lost their schools, 400 agricultural fields destroyed and several houses washed away.