Wene Owino, PANA Correspondent
GABORONE, Botswana (PANA) - Despite
offering five million US dollars in aid to flood ravaged Mozambique and
Zimbabwe, Botswana which has also received international help is yet to
surmount the effects of floods in its own backyard.
Botswana, when proffering the help to the two countries, said that its situation was much better than two countries.
But despite this posturing Botswana seems to be still struggling to cope with the disaster if President Festus Mogae's sentiments are anything to go by.
State radio reported Monday that Mogae is perturbed by the flood situation in various parts of the country amidst a shortage of tents.
He expressed fears about the threat of an outbreak of diseases as a result of the unhygienic conditions in which some of the displaced people have been staying.
Displaced people in Botswana live in tented villages, schools and other public places, and Mogae said this may lead to loss of self-esteem and the privacy that goes with normal living.
He therefore pleaded with those concerned to bear with the government and NGOs, all of which are doing their best to assist.
The president added that the government is doing everything possible to restore the lives of those hardest hit by the floods.
One way of easing the situation is giving tents to people accommodated in public places as a matter of priority in order to free the facilities for normal use.
For the tented dwellings and other badly affected villages, the government is arranging to install the environmental friendly toilets known as enviro-loos.
The rains have subsided in the last few days in Botswana and Mogae hopes that this will continue to allow relief work to go on, especially in inaccessible areas.
The latest weather update in Botswana indicate that except in a few places heavy rainfall is not expected in the country.
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