by Helvy Shaanika
OSHAKATI - Over 400 people in Oshakati have been accommodated at Oshoopala Flood Relocation Camp, following heavy rains that drenched the northern region last week.
Floods have also forced education authorities to close 64 schools in the Omusati Region.
By yesterday morning, 37 tents were already occupied by 126 families.
Floods in Sky and Omahenene locations displaced a few of these people.
According to Oshakati Town Council Public Relations Officer, Jackson Muma, the town council relocated 407 people between last week Thursday and Friday.
Muma said those that are currently affected and relocated are people who have settled in Oshanas and live in informal settlements.
By yesterday, flood victims had stopped moving to the flood camp, as it had not rained over the weekend and water levels had subsided.
Although water levels are currently subsiding, Muma said the town council would not force flood victims to go back to their homes, because the situation is still unpredictable.
Some flood victims are unhappy with the annual relocation, claiming they are losing their belongings and breaking their furniture during the process.
“Living in Oshakati is becoming unbearable. If it starts raining all you think of is this uncomfortable life at the tents and the property that you lose during the process,” said Sylvia Shimaneni.