As Namibia continues to mitigate the effects of drought and climate change over the past decades, the residents of Uis in Erongo Region are grappling with a dire water shortage crisis.

Erongo Governor Neville Andre noted that the water crisis goes beyond Uis, saying it is affecting the whole of the Daures Constituency, and the government is working on transporting water from other areas.

This he said during a meeting held at Swakopmund with relevant stakeholders aimed at finding ways to medicate the water crisis in the region. 
  
The Karibib and Daures constituencies in the Erongo Region recently had to go for almost three days without water, forcing the entire settlement, schools, and other relevant institutions to cut their activities short. 

The water crisis, which has become prevalent in the settlements of Uis, Okombahe, and Otjimbingwe over the past few years, is a result of dried-up aquifers, old water infrastructure, and a general drought in the area. 

And with the schools already grappling with ageing infrastructure and ill-discipline among learners, the continuous water crisis at the settlements is further compounding matters for the Gaob Justus ||Garoeb, Da Palm, and Petrus !Ganeb senior secondary schools. 

Those in the hostel are forced to find alternative ways to relieve themselves. 

The governor, along with the relevant stakeholders and constituency councillors, admitted that the situation tampers with the school's planned activities and learners' overall performance 

"This situation of low rainfall or shortage of water is not only in the Erongo Region alone; we are also getting reports of other regions that are even worse than other regions. Just to say that it is a general situation in our country where we are receiving low rainfall or drought, but also coming to that, not only Namibia alone but the whole of SADC is also having a challenge."

Benitha Imbamba, chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council Management Committee, called on stakeholders to unite in addressing the crisis.

"This is a situation that needs us to act. I would rather say that as different stakeholders sitting around this table, let's find solutions, and we need to act because this is not good. Water is life, and it escalated to the extent that even in schools when we want to go to rural areas, the situation there is not good. The water situation in Otjimbingwe has been continuing for 3 consecutive days."