Flood-affected communities of the Kalimbeza and Masikili areas in the Zambezi region are now able to safely access schools and clinics following the installation of floating bridges.
Communities in these areas, like many other areas in the Kabbe South and Kabbe North constituencies, are hit hard by seasonal floods that make these areas inaccessible.
Hence, the government, through the Ministry of Works and Transport, recently bought a total of 24 640 double floating cubes at a cost of N$24 million as a rapid-response access to communities that become isolated during seasonal flooding.
The Zambezi region received over 1 000 double floating cubes last week to assemble into bridges and install over seven identified flood-affected areas.
Regional director of planning, monitoring, and rural development Beaven Walubita yesterday said the ministry has installed a 200m-long floating bridge at Kalimbeza village, while a 400m-long bridge is being installed at Masikili.
“These bridges make daily commuting safer for communities that otherwise had to walk through unsafe floodwaters to access schools and clinics at Isize.
The 400m floating bridge in the Masikili area will be installed at the school that is currently surrounded by floods.
“The installation of the floating bridges is ongoing, and more flood-affected areas will be accessible soon,” he said.
Walubita said the regional council relocated about 1 510 people from the nine relocation camps in the Kabbe North constituency.
He said the relocation camps are experiencing challenges such as a shortage of toilets, which creates a sanitation crisis.
“We also need maize meal, tents, meat, mattresses, and cosmetics for everyday use to supply to these families.
The regional council does not have a budget for disaster, and we depend on the Office of the Prime Minister,” he said.
Hyderabad Services Namibia’s flood bulletin of 13 April shows that the Zambezi River stands at a level of 6.35m, indicating a slight drop compared to last week’s 6.69m.
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