WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Namibia has appealed for urgent international help to cope with devastating flooding in the northeast, where the swollen Zambezi River has driven as many as 25,000 people from their homes.
Waters have submerged or surrounded more than 20 villages in flooding described by officials as the worst in the area in 20 years. The main disaster agency in the southern African country said on Wednesday it expected the flooding to last until July.
"We have learned that the water levels are rising again," said Gabriel Kangowa, director of the Namibia Emergency Management Unit, adding that many flood victims appeared almost completely cut off because roads were flooded.
"We have no communication with them, we can only see them when we are flying by helicopter," he told Reuters.
The government said in a statement it was asking neighbouring South Africa and Angola for technical help with evacuations, while the World Food Programme is expected to send helicopters from Angola.
On Tuesday, the government declared the Caprivi region, 1,400 km (870 miles) northeast of the capital Windhoek, a disaster area and released $690,000 to buy food, tents and medicine for the victims.
Local leaders say as many as 25,000 people have been displaced by the flooding, while the government estimates about 5,000 people are worst affected.
(Reporting by Chamwe Kaira; editing by Helen Popper)