LISIKILI – The victims of the inferno that destroyed over 40 huts at Saili village in Lisikili about 20 kilometres east of Katima Mulilo have received assistance from the Zambezi Regional Council and good Samaritans.
Over forty homesteads were recently engulfed by a raging fire leaving scores of villagers homeless.
It is believed the fire started from the wild before spreading further with the help of winds to homesteads dotted over the village.
As part of its emergency response, the Zambezi Regional Council has provided humanitarian assistance to those affected according to Chief Regional Officer, Regina Ndopu-Lubinda.
“We have provided tents, mattresses, blankets and food for those affected. The assistance will go on for three months. The Namibia Red Cross as stakeholders have also assisted. We have requested the ministry of agriculture to help the affected farmers,” said Ndopu-Lubinda.
She further noted that some of those affected have decided to start rebuilding their homes already and therefore the regional council was ready to offer free transport for building materials.
“Some of those affected already want to rebuild their homes. We will be providing transport for material whether its poles or grass,” she said.
Ndopu-Lubinda also said the regional council facilitated the issuing of national documents such as passports and IDs for those affected.
“People have already been issued with national documents from home affairs,” she stated.
According to Mwaka Mulimabanji, chairperson of a village committee formed to respond to the disaster more than 30 learners were adversely affected.
“We have more than 30 learners from this village and most of them were affected. They have not received any help. Their uniforms, documents and books were burned in the fire,” she narrated.
Although complaining of the depressing heat, she was content with assistance from the Zambezi Regional Council.
“The regional council brought us mattresses, tents, blankets, bags of maize meal and tin fish. The Red Cross also brought tents for us, as well as the Choto SDA Church which also brought clothes and toiletries. We are very greatful even though the tents are unbearable during the day because of the heat,” she said.
Fires in the area are said to be common this time of the year and a similar disaster occurred in 2001 when about nine homesteads were destroyed.