Angola: Flood Survivors Living in Precarious Conditions

Johannesburg — Ensure Urgent Assistance; Investigate Alleged Lack of Maintenance

Angolan authorities should carry out an independent and credible investigation into the Cavaco River dike collapse and ensure that internally displaced communities receive immediate, adequate, and transparent assistance, Human Rights Watch said today.

Official figures indicate that heavy rainfall and the collapse of the Cavaco River dike on April 12, 2026, triggered devastating floods in Angola's western Benguela province, killing at least 19 people, leaving 31 missing, and affecting more than 8,000 families. At least 3,624 people were rescued, 1,540 homes were destroyed, 3,871 were damaged, and 2,586 remained flooded in the weeks following the disaster.