Close to 64 households displaced by heavy rain have returned to their homes after a two-month stay at the Etunda Relocation Centre in the Ruacana constituency.

The relocation centre was home to approximately 500 people, mostly women, children and elderly people from the flood-hit Ruacana and Onesi constituencies in the Omusati Region.

The centre was established to manage humanitarian crises caused by floods due to heavy rains experienced this year, which has seen the government dispatch helicopters to expedite the distribution of drought relief food and other essential services to the affected communities.

The governor of the Omusati Region, Erginus Endjala, was at the relocation centre to announce its closure, much to the delight of the displaced residents. 

"Now you are going back to your houses and continuing with your lives as usual. Go and repair what has been damaged and harvest the leftover crops if there are any. You will still receive your drought relief food."

A senior registered nurse, Emilia Amukwaya, highlighted the danger of increasing malaria cases and urged community members to take precautions after she had been instrumental in providing health care services at the centre.

"We are facing a concerning increase in malaria cases. Young children often arrive at the hospital too late, when their conditions have already deteriorated. Take children to the hospital even within a day after observing a high temperature."

Fenny Shomongula, the headwoman of the Otjihitua village and community leader at the centre, expressed gratitude to the government on behalf of other residents.