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UNFPA, sister agencies provide aid to flood victims in northern Namibia

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UNFPA, sister agencies provide aid to flood victims in northern Namibia

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UNFPA, sister agencies provide aid to flood victims in northern Namibia

calendar_today 24 March 2023

In Ohangwena Region, 116 people had to be evacuated after flood water submerged their homes.
In Ohangwena Region, 116 people had to be evacuated after flood water submerged their homes.

WINDHOEK, Namibia - Thousands of families in the Ohangwena and Oshana regions stranded by flash floods are in urgent need of help. To assist flood victims, the United Nations family mobilised commodities worth N$2 million, which were handed over to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on 17 March 2023.  Mattresses, blankets, dignity kits, and food cash vouchers were among the items provided.

Statistics from the Ohangwena Regional Council show that over 1 300 families are affected by the floods, of which 14 households and 116 people have already been relocated to higher ground. So far, six schools in the region have closed, subsequently leaving 4 146 learners trapped in their homes.

From left, UNFPA Namibia Representative a.i. Gift Malunga, UN Namibia Resident Coordinator Hopolang Phororo, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Deputy Director for Disaster Risk Management Hellen Likando.  ©UNFPA/Namibia

"Witnessing the plight of several households that have been affected and temporarily displaced as a result of the floods in the northern regions, particularly Ohangwena and Oshana, we could not sit back and watch, so we pooled our efforts to provide dignity kits, mosquito nets, food vouchers, and water purification tablets," said UN Namibia Resident Coordinator, Hopolang Phororo at the handover.
 
While reiterating the UN's commitment to assisting the Namibian Government with urgent and pressing matters, Phororo stated that the need for an early warning system becomes even more pressing, and that building capacity in the area of disaster risk management is essential to ensuring Namibia is better equipped to respond to such crises.
 
She stated that the UN system will continue to offer technical and financial support to Namibia in strengthening and coordinating risk management.
 
Receiving the commodities, Rt. Hon.Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, said the country is faced with natural disasters affecting multiple aspects of development as funds have to be redirected to address emergencies.
 
"Namibia is one of the countries affected by climate change, but because of our per-capita income, we do not receive as much support as we feel we should in order to deal with the consequences of climate change. A significant amount of resources in the budget go to emergency programs."
 
Regions such as Erongo, Omusati, Kunene, and Oshana are still partially affected by the drought.