By Anna Ingwafa
OSHAKATI
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) brought in emergency supplies for flood victims last week worth N$2 116 330.
The consignment includes tents for temporary school and health shelters, family kits, social mobilization materials, toys and health equipment.
According to UNICEF communication specialist Judith Matjila, the supplies which have been delivered directly to the Government’s flood coordination office at Oshakati will be equally distributed among the flood victims in Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions.
The emergency supplies were ordered through UNICEF’s Copenhagen and South Africa offices.
Matjila added that human resources technical assistants, for example nutritionists, water and sanitation, logistic and emergency specialists from UNICEF’s Eastern and Southern African Regional Office in Nairobi are due to arrive in the country.
The specialists will be based at the flood coordination office at Oshakati in the Oshana region.
“As part of the wider United Nations support to the Government of Namibia in addressing the current flood emergency, UNICEF has together with regional counterparts in the flood-affected regions reviewed all access to schools through training of volunteers at relocation camps at units in the regions, provision of psychosocial services at the camps, continued access to essential services such as health, provision of recreational activities for young children and continued hygiene promotion,” said Matjila.
UNICEF Namibia has secured a total of N$2.4 million from the UNICEF’s Global Emergency Programme funds to assist in the flood emergency.
With the onset of flood waters the Government, private companies, non-governmental organisations, donors agencies and individuals have responded to the plight of affected people by donating much needed materials such as blankets, mosquito nets, clothes, food items and much more.