Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09WINDHOEK70
2009-02-26 15:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Windhoek
Cable title:  

DISASTER ALERT: NAMIBIA-SEVERE FLOODING IN NORTHERN AND

Tags:  EAID EAGR SENV ECON WA 
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R 261535Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0363
INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
CDC ATLANTA GA 0210
USEU BRUSSELS
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000070 


STATE FOR AF/S
STATE PASS TO AID FOR AFR/SA AND DCHA/OFDA
OFDA FOR PMORRIS, CCHAN, ACONVERY, LPOWERS, TDENYSENKO, HSHEPPARD
PRETORIA FOR HHALE

AIDAC

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR SENV ECON WA
SUBJECT: DISASTER ALERT: NAMIBIA-SEVERE FLOODING IN NORTHERN AND
NORTH EASTERN REGIONS

UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000070


STATE FOR AF/S
STATE PASS TO AID FOR AFR/SA AND DCHA/OFDA
OFDA FOR PMORRIS, CCHAN, ACONVERY, LPOWERS, TDENYSENKO, HSHEPPARD
PRETORIA FOR HHALE

AIDAC

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR SENV ECON WA
SUBJECT: DISASTER ALERT: NAMIBIA-SEVERE FLOODING IN NORTHERN AND
NORTH EASTERN REGIONS


1. Torrential rains in Angola and northern Namibia in January and
February 2009 have caused serious flooding in the north and north
east of Namibia. Thousands of people have already been affected and
every day the situation is getting worse. The floods in the northern
regions have already claimed six lives. Many families have been or
are being evacuated to higher ground and tent towns are rising on
college and show grounds. There has been damage to infrastructure
including roads, schools, clinics, businesses and housing. Cattle
have died and there has been severe damage to crops and stored
grains due to flood water submersion. Homelessness, hunger, water
borne disease and other infections resulting from the lack of safe
drinking water and lack of sanitary waste disposal are reportedly
increasing.


2. The worst affected areas are 700-900 kilometers north and
northeast of Windhoek. More heavy rains in southern Angola are
predicted by the hydrologists in the Namibian Ministry of
Agriculture, Water and Forestry, and another wave of floodwater is
expected in the Cuvelai drainage system. Heavy rains are also now
affecting the capital, Windhoek, where schools and businesses were
inundated and cars swept away by flash floods during the last week.
The dry southern regions are receiving more rainfall than usual and
the sluices of the biggest dam have been opened to avoid a dam wall
burst which would flood settlements and downstream crops under
irrigation. Even the coastal areas have been affected: the town of
Walvis Bay has been without water for two weeks after the sudden
water flow in the Kuiseb River caused extensive damage to the bore
holes and pumps that provide water to the town. In Caprivi the level
of the Zambezi River is rising and floods are reported to be
worsening. Many families have been relocated to higher ground
settlements. The level of the Okavango River in the Kavango region
is also rising fast. Reporting on the situation has been by the GRN,
regional authorities, the Namibian Red Cross Society (NRCS) and
other NGOs and media. Mission implementing partner staff members
have also traveled to the north recently and have come back with

personal observations consistent with what is being reported in
national media.


3. This year's flooding is the result of an unusual weather pattern
that has contributed to heavier rains than normal in northern
Namibia and southern Angola. Some of the damage and displacement
caused by the flooding is related to the growth and expansion of
towns in the Caprivi, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshana regions into
depressions (oshonas),dry river beds and the low-lying areas of the
Cuvelai delta. The January-February 2009 rains have inundated
low-lying areas quickly and extensively, and water flowing down the
Cuvelai delta from southern Angola is increasing the water levels.


4. Aging water management infrastructure that was damaged during the
2008 floods has not been repaired and has not been effective under
the circumstances. Floods have swept away large swathes of gravel
roads, especially in the Oshana and Omusati regions where they have
cut off whole communities from towns and necessary services.
Continued rains will burden infrastructure further and likely
aggravate flooding and hardship.


5. The GRN has developed a contingency plan to deal with the
flooding, but only two of the thirteen regions and two sectors,
Education and Health, have developed contingency plans. Line
ministries and regions have no budget to address the disaster. The
Directorate of the Emergency Management Unit(EMU) says that it is
fairly prepared to deal with the disaster, but the reality is that
it lacks the financial and technical resources to handle another
flood so soon after the 2008 floods. The Namibian Red Cross Society
has been keen to demonstrate its willingness and capacity to respond
to affected citizens' needs. Their field workers and volunteers are
currently conducting an assessment of the impact of the floods in
the Caprivi, Kavango, Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto
regions.


6. It is difficult to obtain specific information regarding the
flood situation. The EMU is receiving sporadic reports from the
regions, but has not yet released an official comprehensive
assessment of flood damage and rehabilitation/support needs. An
EMU/NRCS team conducted a quick assessment of the northern regions
on the impact of the floods and will be reporting to the Prime
Minister. Two assessment teams comprised of representatives of the
EMU, line ministries, the NRCS and UN agencies will be leaving for
the northern regions, Caprivi, and Kavango o/a February 28 to
conduct a more extensive assessment. The authorities are concerned
about the infrastructure that is under water. Forty schools and some
clinics have had to be closed during the last week.


8. Post will continue to monitor the situation and liaise with
contacts in the GRN and partner organizations. If and when the GRN
declares an emergency and requests assistance, OFDA can expect an
appeal for disaster assistance from Embassy Windhoek under COM
authority. In that appeal we will identify a partner organization
(likely to be the Namibian Red Cross Society),and specific uses of
the funding requested.

MATHIEU