Nooshin Erfani-Ghadim
Namibia has been affected by a new series of floods that hit six regions in the North East and North West of the country on 4 March. Authorities have declared a national emergency.
The Namibia Red Cross Society (NRC) is working with the Government Emergency Management Unit to limit the consequences on affected communities. The NRC is currently conducting an assessment of the needs and has also brought emergency relief assistance.
Thousands of blankets, tents, hygiene kits and water purification units are being rushed to communities that have been displaced. Donations of these essential items have been received from other Red Cross societies, companies and individuals and distributed by Namibia Red Cross.
The NRC is also assisting in the relocation of communities that have been stranded as a result of the heavy flooding of the rivers. It is estimated that 12,000 people have been displaced or stranded after unusually heavy rains, which have affected the whole region, causing the normally dry floodplains to flood, washing away roads and bridges.
Intensive downpours from the neighbouring country, Angola, had a direct impact in Namibia, with extensive destruction of houses and schools, causing several deaths, thousands of displacements, loss of domestic animals and destruction of farmlands. Most of the victims were either young children or old people trying to cross the floodplains at night.
A number of schools in the area have also been affected. In partnership with the Regional Council and the Ministry of Education, the NRC is providing temporary shelter for Kabbe School, which has been surrounded by water.
More rains are forecasted and are likely to continue until April or May. The effects of continued rains may create further flooding and a need for more evacuations. The Namibia Red Cross is continuously assessing the situation with authorities and other stakeholders, but is in immediate need of relief supplies.
On 13 February, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched a revised emergency appeal for 11.4 million Swiss francs ( US$ 10.3 million | € 7.1 million) to respond to the flood crisis affecting many countries in southern Africa. In January, it had warned that rains could continue until April, causing severe flooding in some areas.