Efundja fears for Okalongo

OKALONGO, 28 MAR – Omusati Regional Councillor for the Okalongo Constituency, Laurentius Iipinge has warned people of his constituency, especially those at Onandjaba settlement, to vacate their areas before flood-prone sites are submerged.
His warning follows reports of good rains received in the region since the beginning of this week.
Speaking to Nampa telephonically on Wednesday, Iipinge said Onandjaba is vulnerable to flooding from the upper grounds of the Namibia-Angola border.
Twenty-nine households were relocated to higher ground at the settlement last year after their houses were flooded.
Iipinge suggested that these households be permanently relocated elsewhere in the settlement to avoid repeated loss of property.
There has not been any flooding at Onandjaba yet, but the councillor said he received reports of the oshanas at the nearby Omambuumbuu village being flooded. This water is flowing towards Oneeya and Ogongo.
“People should move out now as the efundja is unpredictable. One can just wake up in water one day,” he said.
He added that a few people, particularly children, have drowned due to flooding in the constituency before.
Sergeant Anna Kunga of the Namibian Police Force’s Public Relations Unit in the Omusati Region, said three people have already drowned in the Okalongo Constituency since the beginning of this year’s rainy season.
Other constituencies where drownings were recorded since this January are Ruacana (two), Anamulenge (three), Outapi (two) and Otamanzi (two).

NAMPA