People evacuated at Mariental settlement

SIXTEEN households at the Hakahana informal settlement near Mariental have been relocated after the overflowing Dabib River flooded their homes on Saturday night.

The Dabib River, a tributary of the Fish River, broke its banks following heavy rainfall in its catchment area. Hardap governor Katrina Hanse-Himarwa said about 133 people were evacuated and are being housed at a local hall and two government houses. She was quick to add that not all the people were directly affected, adding that many opted to be relocated because of ‘panic.’ Food, mattresses and blankets were supplied to the evacuated people. Hanse-Himarwa said the affected people were living in a flood-prone area, and did not rule out permanent relocation. ‘That is a long-term challenge we need to address, but for now we have only rescued the current situation,’ she added. Commenting on Mariental’s flood preparedness, Hanse-Himarwa said monitoring and flood warning systems were in place. The western part of Mariental was flooded in 2006 after the Fish River broke its banks when the sluices of the Hardap Dam were opened. The governor expressed concern over the flood task force’s failure to implement Cabinet resolutions to prevent a repeat of the 2006 flood. Hanse-Himarwa said Government had made budgetary provision for N$10 million to clear the reeds growing in the Fish River and to heighten the dam wall. ‘Failure to implement these resolutions for four years surpasses my understanding,’ Hanse-Himarwa said. She vowed to take up the challenge and called on people to voluntarily start removing the reeds. Hanse-Himarwa called on people living in flood-prone areas to be prepared and remain alert.The governor also called for the decentralisation of the emergency fund to make it possible for regions to respond more promptly to disasters.