Red Cross to aid of flood victims

ELISABETH Drimindi’s shack in Babilon was among those severely damaged during last Friday’s thunderstorm.

“All my pots are gone. I have to go to my neighbours to make food for my family,” she said on Wednesday. Most of her clothes and those of her four children were washed away in the flooding.On Wednesday she became the tenth person in Katutura’s informal settlements to receive a tent from the Red Cross Society of Namibia – part of an effort to help families badly affected by last week’s downpour.”The people are so desperate.It’s during these times that we really want to call on the public to assist us with clothes, food and blanket donations,” said Red Cross Regional Officer Frederika Herero.”We’ve been doing the studies and we know who is in need of social assistance,” she added.Since Friday, the Red Cross’s Edutainment Training Unit has been assessing the situation in Hakahana, Kilimanjaro, Goreangab and other informal settlements.Herero said the Red Cross had already identified more than 100 families for assistance.”Mostly we donate tents to elderly or sick people who can’t help themselves.We have decided to target the most vulnerable,” said the Unit’s Christian Wimmerth.”We will come back to all the tents on a regular basis and make sure they are cared for properly,” he added.”The tents are leftover stock that we have from last year’s Caprivi floods.They are very high quality, waterproof family-sized tents that were produced particularly for flood situations,” said Red Cross Secretary General Razia Kauaria.She said the tents were valued at N$10 000 each.Red Cross workers explained to Drimindi how she could best use her new home.”We need to give them more than just a tent.Elisabeth hasn’t even got a blanket anymore,” said Wimmerth.”But what we can do to help is restricted by how much the community decides to get involved”.Donations to the Red Cross can be made, during office hours, at the Red Cross Centre behind the Shoprite shopping centre in Katutura.Most of her clothes and those of her four children were washed away in the flooding. On Wednesday she became the tenth person in Katutura’s informal settlements to receive a tent from the Red Cross Society of Namibia – part of an effort to help families badly affected by last week’s downpour. “The people are so desperate. It’s during these times that we really want to call on the public to assist us with clothes, food and blanket donations,” said Red Cross Regional Officer Frederika Herero. “We’ve been doing the studies and we know who is in need of social assistance,” she added. Since Friday, the Red Cross’s Edutainment Training Unit has been assessing the situation in Hakahana, Kilimanjaro, Goreangab and other informal settlements. Herero said the Red Cross had already identified more than 100 families for assistance. “Mostly we donate tents to elderly or sick people who can’t help themselves. We have decided to target the most vulnerable,” said the Unit’s Christian Wimmerth. “We will come back to all the tents on a regular basis and make sure they are cared for properly,” he added. “The tents are leftover stock that we have from last year’s Caprivi floods. They are very high quality, waterproof family-sized tents that were produced particularly for flood situations,” said Red Cross Secretary General Razia Kauaria. She said the tents were valued at N$10 000 each. Red Cross workers explained to Drimindi how she could best use her new home. “We need to give them more than just a tent. Elisabeth hasn’t even got a blanket anymore,” said Wimmerth. “But what we can do to help is restricted by how much the community decides to get involved”. Donations to the Red Cross can be made, during office hours, at the Red Cross Centre behind the Shoprite shopping centre in Katutura.