Namibia: UN sends in aid following flooding
The United Nations is helping Namibia recover from flooding when the sluices of a dam fed by eight rivers had to be
opened last month to alleviate rising waters, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) said today.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is to provide an additional 10,000 water purification tablets to the southern African’s
country’s Emergency Management Unit to address a shortfall and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is sending hygiene kits to
affected households.
On 25 February, the western side of the town of Mariental was flooded after sluices of the Hardap Dam were opened. Five
people died. By 28 February, the situation had improved as floodwaters subsided but some 2,100 people remained displaced
as of 3 March. Since schools are about to resume, the displaced people will have to be relocated.
Although the sewerage system is being restored, and water tankers are being placed in strategic areas of the town, only
one water reservoir is functional and water quality remains a problem, OCHA said.