Government drafts disaster plan
Following several years of natural disasters of devastating floods and droughts that have struck the north-central areas of Namibia, an integrated drought and flood management for the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin is being developed.
At a stakeholder consultation on the development of the plan held at Ongwediva yesterday, feedback was given on the progress while community and stakeholders could also give their input. The deputy agriculture permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Abraham Nehemia, said the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin in recent years witnessed either floods or drought conditions. In 2009, floods affected more than 60% of the population, destroying critical infrastructure and washing away crops. Homes were destroyed and livestock killed and there was widespread displacement. More than N$500 million was spent on the rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The 2013 drought had as big an impact and in May of that year, then President Hifikepunye Pohamba declared a state of emergency and requested US$33.7 million in international support to avert a crisis. Recognising the strain across the country, the IFRC and Unicef launched appeals for US$1.2 million and US$7.4 million, respectively. Very little aid arrived.
“Therefore, due to these frequent occurrences of devastating natural disasters in the north-central regions of Namibia, numerous efforts have been made in terms of adaptation to these and the management thereof.”
Among the current initiatives in place is the Namibia-Unesco Water Sector Support Project (NUWSSP).
This is a project jointly developed by the Namibian government through the agriculture ministry and Unesco. According to Nehemia the project aims to strengthening the personnel capacity of the Namibian water sector.
“Secondly it will develop an integrated drought and flood management plan for the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin and thirdly will be the implementation of piloting the developed plan in Iishana Sub-basin which is part of the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin.”
He further said the progress made on the project included the establishment of the project Joint Management Committee (JMC) and the introduction of two master's degree courses at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the University of Namibia.
Eighteen students were admitted by NUST to pursue a master's degree in environmental engineering and started classes in February this year.
At Unam, 25 students enrolled for a master's degree in water resources management and started classes on 7 August this year.
Of these 25 students, 19 are registered part-time whereas six are full-time students.
“We can only successfully manage occurrences of floods and drought if we have technical expertise on board that blend with our indigenous knowledge on how to manage these calamities,” Nehemia said.
He said if floods were well managed and the country took advantage by capturing the floodwater, it could be used during droughts.
“We need to devise smart mechanisms on how we can turn some of these circumstances into a benefit other than a curse.
It is this plan that will assist us in coping with the natural disasters of flood and drought when they strike our area of Cuvelai-Etosha,” he said.
ELLANIE SMIT
At a stakeholder consultation on the development of the plan held at Ongwediva yesterday, feedback was given on the progress while community and stakeholders could also give their input. The deputy agriculture permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Abraham Nehemia, said the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin in recent years witnessed either floods or drought conditions. In 2009, floods affected more than 60% of the population, destroying critical infrastructure and washing away crops. Homes were destroyed and livestock killed and there was widespread displacement. More than N$500 million was spent on the rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The 2013 drought had as big an impact and in May of that year, then President Hifikepunye Pohamba declared a state of emergency and requested US$33.7 million in international support to avert a crisis. Recognising the strain across the country, the IFRC and Unicef launched appeals for US$1.2 million and US$7.4 million, respectively. Very little aid arrived.
“Therefore, due to these frequent occurrences of devastating natural disasters in the north-central regions of Namibia, numerous efforts have been made in terms of adaptation to these and the management thereof.”
Among the current initiatives in place is the Namibia-Unesco Water Sector Support Project (NUWSSP).
This is a project jointly developed by the Namibian government through the agriculture ministry and Unesco. According to Nehemia the project aims to strengthening the personnel capacity of the Namibian water sector.
“Secondly it will develop an integrated drought and flood management plan for the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin and thirdly will be the implementation of piloting the developed plan in Iishana Sub-basin which is part of the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin.”
He further said the progress made on the project included the establishment of the project Joint Management Committee (JMC) and the introduction of two master's degree courses at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the University of Namibia.
Eighteen students were admitted by NUST to pursue a master's degree in environmental engineering and started classes in February this year.
At Unam, 25 students enrolled for a master's degree in water resources management and started classes on 7 August this year.
Of these 25 students, 19 are registered part-time whereas six are full-time students.
“We can only successfully manage occurrences of floods and drought if we have technical expertise on board that blend with our indigenous knowledge on how to manage these calamities,” Nehemia said.
He said if floods were well managed and the country took advantage by capturing the floodwater, it could be used during droughts.
“We need to devise smart mechanisms on how we can turn some of these circumstances into a benefit other than a curse.
It is this plan that will assist us in coping with the natural disasters of flood and drought when they strike our area of Cuvelai-Etosha,” he said.
ELLANIE SMIT
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