Storm leaves family homeless
Pensioner Johannes Nangombe is appealing for help after a storm ripped off his roof and soaked his family's belongings on Tuesday.
A family of ten from Mayana village in Kavango East Region were left homeless after a storm destroyed their homestead on Tuesday.
When Namibian Sun visited the family yesterday morning, they had just returned home from Rundu, about 20 km away, where they had spent the night.
The entire roof of their two-bedroom house had been ripped off by strong wind, leaving the family's belongings and food exposed to the rain.
The owner of the house, Johannes Nangombe (75), was in tears when he spoke about what had happened.
Nangombe said if he was still young and employed he could have repaired the house, but he depended on a state pension to take care of his family.
“I built this house when I was young and physically strong but now I am old and not that strong anymore. My monthly grant is not enough to sustain me and my family. We need help,” Nangombe said.
Nangombe said the storm began around 18:00.
“I was seated under this tree when it all started. It was very windy and it was best for one not to move around to save the things that were being blown away.
“I could not see, nor could I hear what others were saying because my ears were filled with sand. I just had to hold onto this tree until it stopped.”
Nangombe added that his wife, Loide, had hung up the laundry just before the storm hit. Most of the clothes were blown away by the wind and could not be found.
“My wife was doing laundry but some of the clothes are missing. Some of them were scattered in the mahangu field,” Nangombe said.
He appealed to the public to help his family repair their home. Any kind of donation would be appreciated but the most immediate need is corrugated-iron sheets to replace the roof. Because the walls were also damaged, Namgombe said cement donations would be appreciated.
“It's the rainy season and we were expecting to start ploughing but now we have taken a step back as we first have to restore our home. We are therefore calling on fellow countrymen and women to help us,”Nangombe said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
When Namibian Sun visited the family yesterday morning, they had just returned home from Rundu, about 20 km away, where they had spent the night.
The entire roof of their two-bedroom house had been ripped off by strong wind, leaving the family's belongings and food exposed to the rain.
The owner of the house, Johannes Nangombe (75), was in tears when he spoke about what had happened.
Nangombe said if he was still young and employed he could have repaired the house, but he depended on a state pension to take care of his family.
“I built this house when I was young and physically strong but now I am old and not that strong anymore. My monthly grant is not enough to sustain me and my family. We need help,” Nangombe said.
Nangombe said the storm began around 18:00.
“I was seated under this tree when it all started. It was very windy and it was best for one not to move around to save the things that were being blown away.
“I could not see, nor could I hear what others were saying because my ears were filled with sand. I just had to hold onto this tree until it stopped.”
Nangombe added that his wife, Loide, had hung up the laundry just before the storm hit. Most of the clothes were blown away by the wind and could not be found.
“My wife was doing laundry but some of the clothes are missing. Some of them were scattered in the mahangu field,” Nangombe said.
He appealed to the public to help his family repair their home. Any kind of donation would be appreciated but the most immediate need is corrugated-iron sheets to replace the roof. Because the walls were also damaged, Namgombe said cement donations would be appreciated.
“It's the rainy season and we were expecting to start ploughing but now we have taken a step back as we first have to restore our home. We are therefore calling on fellow countrymen and women to help us,”Nangombe said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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