The
devastating floods that have been affecting the Caprivi area
in Namibia have received very little media coverage. However,
over 15 000 people are still in camps, while others are still
in small ‘islands’ of land surrounded by water and
still unreachable by road. They have been there for more than
four weeks now and the Zambezi water is taking its time to recede.
On March 22, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies launched an appeal to help Namibia Red Cross
society meet the emergency needs.
One month later, the appeal is severely under-funded.
Water and sanitation still remain a major challenge. In some
schools, pupils queue for a sip of water, while some community
members are now using the little water available for domestic
chores - skipping bathing,- a decision that could lead to disease
outbreaks.
“The International community and other donors must come
in quickly to avoid another humanitarian crisis in the Caprivi
region,” says Mr. Harun Joho, the International Federation’s
regional water and sanitation delegate. “The people of
Caprivi are in need of water and sanitation assistance now,”
he adds.A visit to Schuckmannsburg, one of the ‘islands’
just next to the Zambian border indicated that a humanitarian
crisis is likely if relief is not provided quickly.
There are only two sources of water, one of which is a clinic
tap designed to provide water to about one hundred people but
now it is catering for over 1, 500 people.
The local chief for the area called for immediate assistance
to curb further suffering for his people. “We are appealing
to everyone concerned to come and help us here. We feel isolated
in this small island which is not big enough for the thousands
of people here,” says Benson Munihango the chief of Nankuntwe,
one of the villages which was completely submerged by the Zambezi
water.
Crops have been destroyed and people are currently surviving
on a government ration of maize meal, cooking oil and tinned
fish for each family per fortnight.
“We have experienced flooding before but this is the worst
situation ever. We only hope that the situation will improve.
Both adults and children are using the bush to go to the toilet
and yet there isn’t adequate water as had in the previous
floods,” says Munihango.
The only way the people of Schuckmannsburg can travel is through
the use of wooden canoes which can only take three people at
a time. Crocodiles are reported to be on the rampage. The future
looks gloomy for the communities as they may have to wait another
four months for the water levels to recede before they can go
back home.
Precious Musweu is among those unlucky few who did not get a
tent and for the past three weeks she has been staying with
her sister.
“We were squeezed in one tent because I didn’t get
a tent in 2004 flood and I also missed out on this one because
they were not enough for everyone,” says Precious, a mother
of two. She is also looking after her late young sister’s
son.
She explains how sometimes she sleeps in the open as the tent
is too small to accommodate the family. “At first my sister
and I didn’t get tents. We were sleeping under one of
the trees until recently when my sister got a tarpaulin in which
we are all staying,” she added cuddling her four year-old
son.
The Namibia Red Cross with the support of the International
Federation has been active in some of the camps providing relief
materials to about 5000 people who were relocated to the camps
on higher ground. Over 1200 households in other camps have also
received relief materials which include 31,500 water treatment
sachets, 500 jerry cans, 250 mosquito nets, bars of soap and
2000 blankets.
But Schuckmannsburg and other small islands such as Impalila
have not been adequately catered for due to lack of relief materials
and appropriate transport to access these areas. Recently the
government of Namibia provided a helicopter and some boats to
carry Red Cross relief materials to the isolated areas.
“We wish to do more, but we have exhausted our resources.
We are only pinning our hopes on the appeal which so far has
not yet been funded,” says Razia Essack-Kauaria, the secretary
general of Namibia Red Cross.
The International Federation is concerned about the slow response
in the entire region where flooding displaced thousands of people
and caused extensive damage to property and crops in Mozambique,
Zambia and Namibia. “This situation in the region is now
worrying. There are some people who haven’t received relief
since the beginning of the flooding disasters since early January,”
said Farid Abdulkadir, the regional disaster management coordinator.
“We are strongly appealing to the international community
and our traditional donors for more resource so that we can
alleviate human suffering in these countries.”
Due to heavy rains, the Zambezi River burst its banks and has
caused flooding in the Namibian Caprivi flood plains, Angola,
Zambia and Mozambique. The floods have affected thousands of
people in the three countries leaving many in need of urgent
need for help.
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Over
15 000 people are still in camps, while others are still
in small ‘islands’ of land surrounded by water
and still unreachable by road. They have been there for
more than four weeks now and the Zambezi water is taking
its time to recede. (p15641)
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A
community member treats her water after receiving water
purification satchets from Namibia Red Cross, but more
are required to ensure safe and clean water among the
communities. (p15642)
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Red
Cross volunteers stranded across the Zambebi river. (p15644)
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Communities
queue for registration in Schuckmannsburg. Schuckmannsburg
and other small islands such as Impalila have not been
adequately catered for due to lack of relief materials
and appropriate transport to access these areas. (p15645)
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Precious
Musweu is among those unlucky few who did not get a tent
and for the past three weeks she has been staying with
her sister. (p15638)
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