The fire that ravaged several shacks at Walvis Bay last night has prompted residents to make fresh demands for serviced land. Families on Khomas Hochland Street were left destitute last night after a shack fire ravaged their homes and belongings.

The victims, who say they were traumatized by the blaze, spent the whole day cleaning the area. Diana Murumbua stressed to nbc News that the outbreak of shack fires is usually a result of congestion, and there is a need for municipalities to speed up the delivery of plots.

"I am seeking help from the government, please. We are not given any land, even when we are burning now, it is because about 300 of us are squatting in one place, in a small area, and we cannot escape in cases of emergencies. We need assistance, we have just had a fire, but no one has come to our aid. We have not eaten, we slept outside, and then they say we must vote. We will not vote."

Walvis Bay Deputy Mayor Sara Mutondoka says the municipality has run out of tents, but arrangements are being made to ensure that there is shelter, food, matrasses, and blankets for the victims by Thursday night. She further indicated that it was not 26 shacks, as per the initial police report, that were affected but rather 13 shacks. Regarding land delivery, Mutondoka says the council allocated four blocks of land at Farm 37, also known as Green Valley, to speed up the process.

"It is quite a challenge because we have got more than 30,000 people that are in need of land, so it becomes a challenge when you have to decide who gets land first. But we are encouraging people to come forward, organize yourselves in groups, or come and apply for land, and this council will consider these applications because we cannot keep denying this very basic need. Because land belongs to the people of Namibia."

Green Valley is located about 10 kilometers from Walvis Bay, and the first 50 people were allocated their individual plots in July.