Omuthiya: Omuthiya Constituency Regional Councillor Erastus Nekomba on Monday visited the homestead of the two toddlers who died after the shack they were sleeping in caught fire at Okakoko village in the Oshikoto Region on Sunday. Nekomba appealed to parents and guardians to prioritise child safety and adopt safer fire practices while emphasising the dangers of leaving young children unattended, particularly near fires, as colder weather sets in across the region.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the two girls were identified as Lavinia Mateus and Ndahafa Handiya. Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Oshikoto Regional Commander, Commissioner Ndeshipanda Lifo, reported that the fire occurred around 08h00 on Sunday. The girls were left home alone by the mother of one of the toddlers while she went to collect firewood in nearby bushes. The second victim was the woman's niece.

Nekomba urged community members to ensure the safety of children by keeping matches and other fire-starting materials out of reach. He emphasized the importance of not making fires in sleeping areas and advised using warm coverings for children instead as temperatures drop in the region.

He further discouraged parents and guardians from leaving children home alone, especially in situations involving open flames or unattended fires. The incident has sparked a conversation on the necessity of increased awareness and preventative measures to protect young children from similar tragedies in the future.