Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani has said there is a need to develop a financial aid package for flood-affected communities in northern Namibia.
Tabling his motion in Parliament on Tuesday, Venaani said flood-affected communities need financial aid as their livelihoods are also impacted by flooding.
Heavy rains were received in the north-eastern parts of Namibia in the Cuvelai catchment area during the second week of January this year.
This resulted in flooding in Ondjiva and surrounding areas, where over 670 homes in the Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshana regions were affected.
Over 300 people have been placed in temporary shelters, while countless numbers lost their livelihoods as crops and businesses have been destroyed.
“Most people in the Oshana Region live in rural areas, with their income highly dependent on subsistence farming. Many farmers lose the majority of their annual harvest, as well as their livestock, jeopardising their income and food sources,” Venaani said.
He said Cabinet approved an amount of N.dollars 72 million on 14 February this year for the provision of relief assistance to flood-affected communities. The relief assistance will amongst others include the provision of water, tents, food items, mosquito nets, hygiene items, life jackets, blankets and mattresses.
“Whilst this is certainly a necessary intervention on the part of government, it is not adequate and does not meet the needs of the affected communities,” the PDM leader said.
He added that lives have been uprooted and mosquito nets and tents will not restore these lives, hence the need for Parliament to debate the need for a financial package for the flood-affected communities.
Venaani gave an example of Australia, where the equivalent of N.dollars 600 million was availed as a disaster relief package in 2022.
Of that amount, N.dollars 100 million was for financial aid for the affected communities.
He noted that a similar measure could be put in place for the communities in northern Namibia.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
