The regional leadership expressed concern over the lack of receptive centres for flood victims who find themselves homeless due to heavy seasonal flooding in Omusati.
The region only has one site, Etunda reception centre, where Angolan migrants who fled their country due to social ills such as food insecurity were recently housed.
Heavy rains and rising river levels in the Kunene River catchment usually cause flooding in Omusati region, inundating community houses, infrastructures, and crop fields.
The government, through regional councils has disaster risk management units, to deal with natural phenomena such as floods and drought.
“There are no signs of floods yet. But I heard someone coming from Angola that some areas of Sangongo received good rains and that’s where the floods are coming from. Once Kunene River is full, then we get floods. Rain patterns are unpredictable these days,” briefed Omusati governor Erginus Endjala on the rain situation in Omusati region recently.
He said when it comes to issues of relocation, the regional council can do it but they have to involve the Office of the Prime Minister for items such as food.
Although Endjala has confirmed the region is ready in terms of logistics such as tents, ablution facilities if floods hit, the regional council is faced with challenges of land when it comes to relocating those affected by floods.
“We have a challenge when it comes to relocation within communities. You have to look for higher ground. Most of this land is with the traditional authorities. It belongs to someone else and we don’t know where to relocate the people when floods come. We only have Etunda receptive area where the Angolan migrants were housed,” he bemoaned.
Another issue Endjala mentioned is the lack of transportation of flood victims as the region is scattered to bring them to the only available receptive centre.
“If someone who is flooded lives in Okalongo and needs to be relocated to higher ground, then it’s a problem because there is no transport and the area is far. We are appealing to traditional authorities to leave some piece of land to use in case of natural disasters such as floods,” he appealed.
Endjala cautioned people in the prone areas to be vigilant and report any movement or signs of floods in their villages.
Endjala said Omusati received good rains thus far, and farmers are busy cultivating their mahangu fields.
“Let’s cultivate our fields. Predictions are that we will receive good rains and so we must work hard. We must stay away from cuca shops and concentrate on food production in our fields,” he encouraged.
The conditions of livestock have started to improve quickly as the rain started falling.
Meanwhile, Oshana governor Elia Irimari said as a regional council, they put mitigation measures in an event of floods and drought-hit.
“The region came together to prepare for any eventualities. In the event, it doesn’t rain well; we put up measures in case livestock conditions get worse. These are cost-effective measures,” he said.
Despite the fact that all logistics are in place, Irimari indicated Oshana Regional Council no longer wants to be relocating people every year due to floods.
This he said is being addressed as the Oshakati Town Council has started with the implementation of a stormwater drainage system to channel the water away from residents.
Irimari also indicated people in Oshana have started ploughing despite the late rains.
“People are using seeds that grow very fast but the fields are not yet green. No one is certain if we are going to have a bumper harvest or no harvest at all. We will know by March. It only started raining these weeks. We are not sure if we are going to make it in terms of food production. The area is still dry. The grass is only shooting up now. Grazing also doesn’t look good yet, therefore the livestock such as cattle are in danger unlike small stock,” he noted.
–anakale@nepc.com.na
Caption:
Hectic…Omusati region is in need of reception centres to house flood victims in an event of floods. Photo: Victoria Kaapanda