Helicopter to the rescue as Oshana steps up drought-relief efforts in flood-hit areas

The Oshana Regional Council this week acquired the services of a helicopter from the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) to help distribute drought-relief food in floodprone areas.

The helicopter will be used in areas such as Uuvudhiya, Ompundja and Okatyali.

It will also help farmers to deliver food and other basic essentials to their cattle herders in affected grazing areas.

Oshana governor Elia Irimari says the helicopter will not only cater for the affected residents of the Oshana region, but all northern regions that may need the helicopter’s services.

“This helicopter will assist the whole north. Following the heavy rains, many people are stranded and cut off from the main routes due to high water levels.

“This leaves the communities vulnerable and unable to cross the water pans. We thought of getting a helicopter to assist our farmers – especially those living in flood prone areas,” he says.

Irimari could not tell how many residents are affected, but says especially those at villages are in dire need of humanitarian aid.

“The helicopter will be used to distribute food items and other essentials to the communities in floodprone areas. The situation is bad as most of the cattle herders are cut off by the water, and as such many are unable to get to town to acquire basic essentials.

“Thus, we are requesting the farm owners to drop off food parcels at the Uukwangula warehouse, and we’ll deliver them by helicopter,” he says.

Many rural areas, including schools in the region, are cut off from essential services following recent heavy rains, accompanied by floodwater coming from Angola.