Kunene flood assessment underway in Epupa constituency after river overflow

The Office of the Kunene Governor, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Services, on Thursday assessed flood impacts at Otjimuhaka village, also known as Swartbooi Drift, in the Epupa constituency.

Otjimuhaka village is situated along the Kunene River, about 140 kilometres from Opuwo.

The governors’s personal assistant, Phillip Likando, says the purpose of the visit was to gather information from authorities and affected residents.

“We are here to get a full briefing from the police officers and community members, as well as to collect data and inspect the area,” he says.

Likando explains that the team is focusing on key areas.
“We need to look at the number of people affected, shelter damage, the situation of food, water and sanitation, security, and infrastructure that has been affected,” he says.

Community members say they were alerted early on Tuesday at around 01h00 by police officers, who had been informed by Namibia Power Corporation’s Ruacana operations about rising water levels in the Kunene River.

Residents moved their belongings to higher ground before flood waters reached the area around 09h00, with flooding continuing to Wednesday.

About 20 households have been affected at Otjimuhaka, where most residents cultivate along the Kunene River.

Crops were destroyed after being submerged.

During the visit, the health ministry donated mosquito nets, water purification tablets, sanitation buckets and other essential items to assist affected community members.

Mathew Ndemunyengwa, a health official at Otjimuhaka clinic, says the clinic does not have mosquito nets and has no confirmed cholera cases, but cases of diarrhoea are being reported.

“We need toilets in the area, but the most urgent needs are mosquito nets and water sanitation pills,” he says.

Otjimuhaka village headman Edward Kariapeke says the network is very poor, making communication during emergencies difficult, while the road to Ohangonga becomes unusable during the rainy season.

He adds that although they are thankful for the early warning, their crops have been destroyed and will rot due to flooding. No human lives were lost during the flooding.
– Nampa

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