Caprivi flood victims resist relocation

SOME flood victims in the Caprivi Region, mostly the elderly, are said to be unwilling to move to higher ground.

Emergency teams working in the region yesterday concentrated on relocating Grades 10 and 12 students and their teachers to safer areas after five schools in the eastern floodplains were ordered to close. Ndeutapo Amagulu, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, said yesterday that the elderly in particular were reluctant to move, saying they knew the river and its pattern.He said their situation would be constantly monitored.Amagulu is heading a delegation from the Prime Minister’s office which was sent to Katima Mulilo on Friday to monitor and co-ordinate relief efforts.At present at least 10 000 people are estimated to be affected by the flooding Zambezi River – at least half of whom are said to be at immediate risk.The river level as measured at Katima Mulilo dropped slightly yesterday – to 6,96 metres after reaching the seven-metre barrier on Friday and 7,04 m on Saturday, a peak for this year.Yesterday’s reading still puts the river at 2,4 m higher than at the same time last year.The drop in the water level is being attributed to water now having crossed the Bukalo channel and heading towards Lake Liambezi.This could be the first time in more than 20 years that the lake will hold stagnant water.However, it will also threaten crop fields in the area.Besides the five schools in the Muzii and Nankuntwe areas which are now closed, at least another 16 have been identified as being under threat and could face closure if the situation deteriorates any further, Amagulu said yesterday.Government has authorised N$10 million from its emergency fund for relief efforts.The main focus at this time is evacuating those in danger and setting up makeshift shelters for them.Impalila island, Lusese, Kabbe as well as the highlands of Schuckmannsburg have been identified for relocation.Amagulu said it had not yet been determined how many people would be displaced as a result of the floods.It has been decided that the schooling of Grade 10 and 12 students should not be interrupted by the flooding and plans are underway to set up makeshift schools.All other school children have been made to return home and will be evacuated along with their parents.When Government began evacuating people from the affected areas last week, only about 20 people were found to have already moved despite several warnings by traditional leaders over the past two months.Relief missions are using small boats to ferry people to safer areas, but space limitations have meant that many are being forced to leave their belongings behind.Four helicopters, two from Zimbabwe and the other two from the Ministry of Works and NamPower, are being used to survey the area on a daily basis and to transport food and other items for temporary shelter.A consignment of more tents, mosquito nets, blankets and water cans are expected to arrive from Red Cross stores in Harare today.To date, Amagulu said, no outbreak of disease had been reported, but access to clean water was of concern.The Red Cross and the Health Ministry, he said, were monitoring the health situation closely and planned to distribute water purification tablets especially to those refusing to leave their villages.Although most lodges at the town of Katima Mulilo had already been surrounded by water, Amagulu said residents did not face any immediate threat.The water is now moving through channels east of the town.Communities affected by the waters have reportedly moved to live with relatives and friends in unaffected areas.Ndeutapo Amagulu, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, said yesterday that the elderly in particular were reluctant to move, saying they knew the river and its pattern.He said their situation would be constantly monitored.Amagulu is heading a delegation from the Prime Minister’s office which was sent to Katima Mulilo on Friday to monitor and co-ordinate relief efforts.At present at least 10 000 people are estimated to be affected by the flooding Zambezi River – at least half of whom are said to be at immediate risk.The river level as measured at Katima Mulilo dropped slightly yesterday – to 6,96 metres after reaching the seven-metre barrier on Friday and 7,04 m on Saturday, a peak for this year.Yesterday’s reading still puts the river at 2,4 m higher than at the same time last year.The drop in the water level is being attributed to water now having crossed the Bukalo channel and heading towards Lake Liambezi.This could be the first time in more than 20 years that the lake will hold stagnant water.However, it will also threaten crop fields in the area.Besides the five schools in the Muzii and Nankuntwe areas which are now closed, at least another 16 have been identified as being under threat and could face closure if the situation deteriorates any further, Amagulu said yesterday.Government has authorised N$10 million from its emergency fund for relief efforts.The main focus at this time is evacuating those in danger and setting up makeshift shelters for them.Impalila island, Lusese, Kabbe as well as the highlands of Schuckmannsburg have been identified for relocation.Amagulu said it had not yet been determined how many people would be displaced as a result of the floods.It has been decided that the schooling of Grade 10 and 12 students should not be interrupted by the flooding and plans are underway to set up makeshift schools.All other school children have been made to return home and will be evacuated along with their parents.When Government began evacuating people from the affected areas last week, only about 20 people were found to have already moved despite several warnings by traditional leaders over the past two months.Relief missions are using small boats to ferry people to safer areas, but space limitations have meant that many are being forced to leave their belongings behind.Four helicopters, two from Zimbabwe and the other two from the Ministry of Works and NamPower, are being used to survey the area on a daily basis and to transport food and other items for temporary shelter.A consignment of more tents, mosquito nets, blankets and water cans are expected to arrive from Red Cross stores in Harare today.To date, Amagulu said, no outbreak of disease had been reported, but access to clean water was of concern.The Red Cross and the Health Ministry, he said, were monitoring the health situation closely and planned to distribute water purification tablets especially to those refusing to leave their villages.Although most lodges at the town of Katima Mulilo had already been surrounded by water, Amagulu said residents did not face any immediate threat.The water is now moving through channels east of the town.Communities affected by the waters have reportedly moved to live with relatives and friends in unaffected areas.