Aletta Shikololo

ONGWEDIVA – A number of schools which were closed due to floods in the Oshana and Omusati regions have resumed classes as water levels subsided. However, more schools remain closed in the Ohangwena region.

Omusati Regional Council spokesperson Simeon Kandjala said the flood situation in the region is manageable, and all five schools which were closed for the past few weeks
have reopened. “Right now, we don’t have any school closed, and the water level is slowly subsiding,” he reiterated. In the Oshana region, 12 schools have so far been affected by floods.

Five of these schools like Oikango, Oshipumbu, Onakamwandi, Omusimboti Combined School and the Nevonga Primary School recently opened, and classes have resumed. So far, only two schools in the region, being the Peter Nanyemba Primary School and Kupila are completely closed.

Last week, over 2 000 learners were home due to floods, but the number has been reduced to 607. As things seem to be getting back to normal in Omusati and Oshana, the flood remains persistent and continues to affect more schools in Ohangwena. This region has been hard-hit by floods, with more residents relocated.

According to the Ohangwena Regional Council, 36 schools are severely affected, of which 18 are completely closed, eight are partially closed, and two schools have learners camping at school premises.

Only one school, Omutaku Combined School, has reopened so far.

“Plans are in place to assess the situation and put programmes in place to compensate days lost when floods subside,” reads the flood update document.

Households

Of the 274 people in the Oshana region who were relocated to higher grounds last week, no new cases have been reported so far.

Statistics show that in most constituencies which are affected by floods, the water flow has reduced. Residents are nonethelesswarned to still be vigilant when crossing streams. Meanwhile, in the Ohangwena region, the number of relocated people has increased from 332 to 366.

About 1 900 people and 70 villages in Ohangwena remain affected by the floods.

- ashikololo@nepc.com.na