Floodwater invades central Oshakati

MORE people have been displaced as floodwaters in the North continue to rise in the wake of another wave of water reaching Oshakati on Wednesday.

Yesterday, the swirling waters were close to crossing the tar road between Oshakati and Ongwediva. Many businesses have been forced to close, people are struggling to lay their hands on food and schooling is being severely affected The floodwater is slowly but surely infiltrating into central Oshakati from the direction of the Omatala open market.Many residents of the Oneshila, Evululuko, Oshoopala, Sikai, Eemwandi and Uupindi informal settlements are now homeless, and relief centres at the Independence Stadium and the Ongwediva Trade Fair Centre are full.An alternative site near Meatco in northern Oshakati is still not ready.The whole of yesterday, the Army and the Oshakati and Ongwediva town councils were picking up people left homeless in the informal settlements.The Councillor for Oshakati West, Arma Martin, has appealed to headmen in villages around Oshakati to give temporary shelter.The Ehenye Primary School in Oneshila has been closed for a week, and the Kandjengedi Combined School will probably be closed if the flooding continues.By yesterday afternoon, the Checkers shopping centre near Omatala was already under water and many shop owners feared the closure of their shops if the flood continued.Among the latest casualties are the Bicho Lodge in the Okandjengedi informal settlement, the Okandjengedi Mini Market and Pellon House at Kandjengedi and the Nambango Shop at Oneshila.Many businesses have been forced to close, people are struggling to lay their hands on food and schooling is being severely affected The floodwater is slowly but surely infiltrating into central Oshakati from the direction of the Omatala open market.Many residents of the Oneshila, Evululuko, Oshoopala, Sikai, Eemwandi and Uupindi informal settlements are now homeless, and relief centres at the Independence Stadium and the Ongwediva Trade Fair Centre are full.An alternative site near Meatco in northern Oshakati is still not ready. The whole of yesterday, the Army and the Oshakati and Ongwediva town councils were picking up people left homeless in the informal settlements.The Councillor for Oshakati West, Arma Martin, has appealed to headmen in villages around Oshakati to give temporary shelter.The Ehenye Primary School in Oneshila has been closed for a week, and the Kandjengedi Combined School will probably be closed if the flooding continues.By yesterday afternoon, the Checkers shopping centre near Omatala was already under water and many shop owners feared the closure of their shops if the flood continued.Among the latest casualties are the Bicho Lodge in the Okandjengedi informal settlement, the Okandjengedi Mini Market and Pellon House at Kandjengedi and the Nambango Shop at Oneshila.