Efundja is coming
The seasonal floodwater from southern Angola is on its way to northern Namibia and its magnitude is worrying.
Devastating floods could swamp parts of northern Namibia this weekend, the hydrological service has warned.
Several parts of the country, especially in the north, continued to experience heavy rains in the last couple of days.
Hydrologist Leonard Hango yesterday issued a fresh warning during an interview with Namibian Sun.
According to Hango it is likely that the seasonal floodwater from Angola, known as efundja, could reach northern Namibia this weekend.
Hango said the authorities had been informed of the possible disaster and needed to prepare for the worst.
Hango said the current flooding being experienced in the Cuvelai catchment area was similar to the efundja experienced during 2008-2011, which led to the displacement of thousands of people.
That prompted former president Hifikepunye Pohamba to declare the floods in northern and north-eastern Namibia a national emergency.
According to Hango, there is heavy flooding in southern Angola at the moment and areas such as Omupanda and Onamakunde in the Cunene Province are severely affected.
“I contacted my Angolan counterparts this week and they told me the flood is between Omupanda and Onamakunde. It could have been here already but the area where the water is did not receive good rains,” Hango said.
'Ready'
Following the flood alert, officials in the Oshana and Omusati regions said contingency plans were in place, including the activation of regional disaster risk management committees.
Omusati governor Erginus Endjala said his region's disaster risk management committee met yesterday to assess reports from the constituencies as to how many people had been affected by the recent heavy rains.
So far, 64 schools have been affected, representing about 19 000 learners.
Endjala added that more reports were expected, which the disaster risk management committee would assess to determine the kind of assistance the affected people needed.
A request would then be forwarded to the Office of the Prime Minister.
“We are waiting for the reports from the officials on the ground in order for us to prepare ourselves fully,” the governor said.
“We are ready for the floods and we are going to make sure our people have been taken care of. For now we are using radio services to inform the public about what measures they should take when the flood comes,” Endjala said.
Oshana chief regional officer Martin Elago said the regional council had activated the disaster risk management committee upon receiving the flood warning.
Elago said although one could never predict the impact of a natural disaster, they had the necessary mechanisms in place.
“For a natural disaster, one can never say you are ready for it but we have put up mechanisms and we will be ready to jump when the flood comes in order to help those that will be affected,” Elago said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Several parts of the country, especially in the north, continued to experience heavy rains in the last couple of days.
Hydrologist Leonard Hango yesterday issued a fresh warning during an interview with Namibian Sun.
According to Hango it is likely that the seasonal floodwater from Angola, known as efundja, could reach northern Namibia this weekend.
Hango said the authorities had been informed of the possible disaster and needed to prepare for the worst.
Hango said the current flooding being experienced in the Cuvelai catchment area was similar to the efundja experienced during 2008-2011, which led to the displacement of thousands of people.
That prompted former president Hifikepunye Pohamba to declare the floods in northern and north-eastern Namibia a national emergency.
According to Hango, there is heavy flooding in southern Angola at the moment and areas such as Omupanda and Onamakunde in the Cunene Province are severely affected.
“I contacted my Angolan counterparts this week and they told me the flood is between Omupanda and Onamakunde. It could have been here already but the area where the water is did not receive good rains,” Hango said.
'Ready'
Following the flood alert, officials in the Oshana and Omusati regions said contingency plans were in place, including the activation of regional disaster risk management committees.
Omusati governor Erginus Endjala said his region's disaster risk management committee met yesterday to assess reports from the constituencies as to how many people had been affected by the recent heavy rains.
So far, 64 schools have been affected, representing about 19 000 learners.
Endjala added that more reports were expected, which the disaster risk management committee would assess to determine the kind of assistance the affected people needed.
A request would then be forwarded to the Office of the Prime Minister.
“We are waiting for the reports from the officials on the ground in order for us to prepare ourselves fully,” the governor said.
“We are ready for the floods and we are going to make sure our people have been taken care of. For now we are using radio services to inform the public about what measures they should take when the flood comes,” Endjala said.
Oshana chief regional officer Martin Elago said the regional council had activated the disaster risk management committee upon receiving the flood warning.
Elago said although one could never predict the impact of a natural disaster, they had the necessary mechanisms in place.
“For a natural disaster, one can never say you are ready for it but we have put up mechanisms and we will be ready to jump when the flood comes in order to help those that will be affected,” Elago said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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