Flooding along the Kunene River in the Epupa Constituency has displaced several households, damaging homes and crops as water levels rose sharply.
An assessment team comprising representatives from the Kunene Governor’s office, Health Ministry, and Police evaluated the situation, identifying access to safe drinking water as a pressing concern. As a temporary measure, officials distributed water purifiers to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases.
Philip Likando, Personal Assistant to the Kunene Governor, said: “We are doing a livelihood assessment and looking at the impacts on infrastructure, people’s houses, their gardens, their livestock, their sanitation needs, their water needs, and their food needs.”
Warrant Officer Themoteus Wanifeni, Commander of Otjimuhaka Police Station, reported receiving early alerts about incoming floods and issuing warnings to residents.
“So that we can alert people along the river that if they have any animals close to the river or any valuable things, they can remove them to higher grounds,” Wanifeni explained.
Health Extension Worker Mathew Ndemunongua welcomed the water purification supplies: “Since the flood came, the water was very much dirty, and I think the community will utilize the package to purify it and make it clean water so that they can drink clean water to prevent a lot of diarrheas.”
Learner Vihonua Hembida from Otjimuhaka Primary School voiced concerns about returning home safely, noting floodwaters often bring crocodiles.
“We felt bad because some people cannot go home because some roads and pathways will be closed off, and the water comes with crocodiles which will harm us and the animals,” she said.
Fourteen-year-old Ndapandura Paiva from Okovahene Village recounted a frightening encounter with a crocodile near her garden: “As I was guarding the garden from outside the fence, the crocodile charged at the fence trying to attack me but it got caught by the fence then I ran off to get help.”
The floods have also impacted critical infrastructure, including parts of the Kunene River Lodge.