Ondjiva — The assistance to the victims of the drought affecting the southern region of Angola was assured Wednesday in Ondiva (Cunene) by the secretary of State of Interior, Eugénio Laborinho.

Eugenio Laborinho was speaking to Angop on the fringes of the regional seminar on the "System of warning in the management of risks and natural disasters" that is taking place in Ondjiva since Tuesday.

According to him, the drought has affected the provinces of Cunene, Kwanza Sul, Benguela, Namibe and Kuando Kubango.

He stressed that permanent assistance to the populations of the above mentioned regions is a must, as the harvests of the agricultural season were severely affected by the lack of rains.

Eugénio Laborinho said that in the face of this, the central Government will continue raising the means to fight or mitigate the effects of the evil.

The official said that the provincial governments of the regions affected have been instructed to work with dedication to provide the victims with all necessary assistance.

The assistance to the population affected by the drought consists of supply of foodstuffs, clothing, medical aid, drilling of boreholes and other actions to lessen the suffering in the country's southern region.

According to Cunene province Government's data, the drought has left in the situation of vulnerability about 542 people an 1.2 million cattle.