More than 15 000 people are facing floods in north-eastern Namibia as water levels rose due to heavy rains in the Zambezi river’s catchment area, officials said on Saturday.
”It is estimated that some 15 000 to 20 000 people are already affected by the floods, compared to last year when some 12 000 people were in need of assistance,” said Razia Essack-Kauaria, secretary general of the Namibian Red Cross Society (NRS).
The NRS has sent a team to the northeastern border town of Katima Mulilo with a consignment of tents, water purification tablets, collapsible water cans, blankets and mosquito nets, she said in a statement.
Chris Kruger, a technician for the Namibia Water Corporation, said the Zambezi — one of Southern Africa’s largest rivers and the border between Namibia and Zambia — has surpassed last year’s 6,62m flood level. About 12 000 people were displaced by those floods.
About 15 schools were also flooded in the Katima area and in Kabbe, about 50km south of the regional capital.
Various tourist lodges were also unreachable.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean air force helicopters have flown to the water-stricken area to help with rescue operations, the state-run Zimbabwean Broadcasting Corporation reported in Harare on Saturday.
”The first Zimbabwean helicopters that went in this week took government and aid officials on an assessment trip of the affected areas,” it said, adding that officials believed these to be the worst floods there since 1958. — Sapa-AFP