The Ongwediva Town Council has become the first local authority to procure emergency tents as part of its disaster risk management initiative aimed at assisting residents during emergencies.

The move follows a call by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) urging all government agencies to be proactive in supporting national disaster risk management efforts.

The council responded swiftly by purchasing six emergency tents; three of them measure 5 by 10 metres, while the other three measure 5 by 5 metres and are valued at N$140.000.
The tents will be made available free of charge to flood victims of Ongwediva when the need arises, for example, during floods, fire outbreaks, strong winds and other emergencies.

Ongwediva Mayor Naemi Amuthenu says the initiative demonstrates the council's dedication and commitment to strengthening community resilience and ensuring residents that they are better prepared to face emergencies.

Members of the public are encouraged to report emergencies to the council to enable a rapid response.
The council, she says, plans to procure a similar number of tents in the next financial year to further strengthen preparedness for disaster-related incidents.

"These efforts encompass prevention, preparedness, response and recovery activities, all aimed at protecting our communities, infrastructure and economy from the devastating impacts of disasters such as floods, fires and other natural calamities facing our towns and community members in particular," expressed Amuthenu. 

The town council disaster risk management secretariat says the emergency services have evolved from a traditional firefighting role into a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, preparedness, response and recovery activities.