Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says disasters, whether natural or human-induced, know no boundaries, nor do they discriminate based on social, economic, or geographic factors.
She made these remarks at the commemoration of the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction, held at Uukwangula Settlement in Oshana Region's Okatana Constituency.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says catastrophes affect the most vulnerable and marginalised communities, who often lack the capacity to cope with and effectively recover from such crises.
She reminded the nation that disasters can derail development agendas, as resources needed for relief and response must be diverted.
There is thus a need to adapt and build resilience among sectors and within the most vulnerable communities.
Thus, the government's focus remains on disaster preparedness and resilience building.
"Almost every sector and individual in Namibia has a role to play in managing disaster risks. Our disaster risk legal framework makes provision for the establishment of disaster risk management committees at village, town, constituency, regional, and national levels. These communities are necessary in a disaster to assess the extent of damage, mobilise the required relief, and effect a timely response."
She implored stakeholders, town councils, and traditional authorities not to allow households to be erected in flood-prone areas.
Community members themselves were also advised to desist from settling in flood-prone areas, which put their lives at risk of natural disasters.
Namibia's international partners pledged to support the country's efforts to manage risks.
The Deputy Country Director of WFP, Ericah Shafudah, says, "WFP remains committed to supporting the Namibian government in implementing disaster risk reduction to respond effectively to climate effects and environmental factors."
Kombada Mhopjeni, the National Programme Officer of Science at UNESCO, says, "With a number of catastrophic events predicted globally by 40% between 2015 and 2023, assisting the affected communities in mitigating, adopting, and anticipating hazards before they occur and managing them efficiently is more essential."