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Namibia

Namibia: Floods Appeal No. 09/2004 Operations Update No. 2

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In Brief

Appeal no. 09/2004; Operations Update no. 2; Period Covered: March to April 2004; Appeal coverage : 30.8%

Appeal history:

Launched on 01 April 2004 for CHF 797,000 (USD 629,201 or EUR 511,688) for five months to assist 50,000 beneficiaries.

This Operations Update revises the budget to CHF 846,000 and reduces to 20,000 beneficiaries;

Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 60,000.

Outstanding needs: CHF 585,173 (USD 460,000 or EUR 375,000)

Related Emergency or Annual Appeals: Namibia 2004 Annual Appeal no. 01.16/2004

Operational Summary: The Namibia Red Cross continues with its relief operations , delivering much needed assistance. More than 3,000 persons have been relocated to safer grounds. Due to recent developments, the operational objectives and budget have been revised to benefit 20,000 people. The RDRT1 has handed over the relief operation to the Namibia Red Cross with effect from 30 April 2004 for a further month to ensure that the relocated people continue to receive all the necessary support. The Namibia Red Cross disaster officer and the Caprivi regional manager are responsible for the management and coordination of the relief operation. The relief operation will continue to provide relief items health and hygiene education, water and sanitation and malaria control.

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org

Background

Following heavy rains during the months of February and March 2004, the Zambezi River2 started rising to dangerous levels. Localised floods were reported in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, but the greatest current concern is in the Caprivi Strip in north eastern Namibia where authorities have confirmed it is the worst floods in the area since 1958.

The water level in the Zambezi has been increasing every day, and broke the seven meter mark above normal level on Saturday 3 April, which is the highest level recorded since 1966. The water level has been fluctuating since, but there are fears that next wave of floods may come any day now, as the water levels usually peak around the end of April, which is the end of the annual rainy season. The most affected areas are the Kabbe and Katima rural constituencies, located in the low-lying areas along the Zambezi. Each constituency has a population of some 15,000 people. It has been confirmed that some 98 percent of Kabbe has been severely affected by the floods, and up to 50 percent of Katima rural, and that some 20,000 people are currently at risk. If the water level continues to rise, the constituencies of Sibinda, Linyandi and Kongola may also be threatened. Previous severe flooding in the area (May 2003) resulted in 12,000 people displaced, but already more areas have been affected now than in last year's flood.

Local authorities have already evacuated some 3,200 people to safer grounds to four evacuation points in Lusese (A and B camp), Impalila Island, Schuckmansburg, and in Kasika, but it is expected that some 5,000 people in all will be evacuated in coming days. The rescue of the people, many of whom have been stranded on small islands of higher ground submerged by the flood water, has been difficult as they are only accessible by air (helicopter), or by boat (airboat or rubber boats as the water is very shallow) The Namibia Red Cross with the support of the Federation has already distributed some 800 tents to evacuated families, and will provide shelter to all those in need.

Many schools have been affected, and authorities have decided to close at least six of the most affected school. It is hazardous for both students and teachers to remain in these places and to commute back and forth through the flood water, either by foot or by canoes. Some schools have requested tents so that teachers and students, who need to commute from the flooded areas, can be accommodated on their premises. Others have been relocated at the evacuation sites; where there is also need to shelter both teachers and students who are without their families. Tarpaulins and tents will also be used as makeshift classrooms so that there will be as little disruption in the school-year as possible.

The Caprivi district experiences some flooding at the end of the rainy season every year and, traditionally, people shift their accommodation to higher ground with their livestock during that time. However, the majority of people have been reluctant to leave their homes for higher grounds for fear of having to do without access to schools and clinics within their vicinity, and fear that their houses will be looted if they leave. Many villages have already brought their cattle to grazing areas inland, leaving women and children behind, but herders are also affected by the unusually heavy rains which prevail in the area as they have limited shelter where they stay. The floods this year have left thousands of people, mostly women and children, stranded in submerged villages and in urgent need for assistance. Water and sanitation is very poor in the region, and the affected communities mostly rely on flood water - contaminated with human and cattle excrement - for both consumption and personal hygiene.

The Caprivi region is an area with known stable perennial malaria transmission with strong seasonal increases during the months of January to April. Therefore, most of the rural adult population requiring evacuation or indirectly affected will possess some degree of semi-immunity which may not prevent fever when challenged with high levels of transmission but may not be fatal. In contrast, all children under five and pregnant women could develop deadly forms of malaria if there is no rapid access to adequate treatment. The widespread floods have caused a massive increase vector density in the flooded areas where the population remain unprotected against mosquito bites. This increase in vector density can be expected to prevail until one month after the floods have fully receded.

The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the area is 43%. There is a significant fear that contamination of water sources may provoke an outbreak of water borne diseases and malaria, deepening the vulnerability of the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). Authorities also fear that cholera may break out, and are monitoring the health situation carefully. It is imperative that the affected people maintain access to clean water, blankets and impregnated bednets for protection from mosquitoes. Most of the population of the area relies on subsistence farming, and chronic food insecurity prevails in the region. The floods have destroyed large parts of this year's harvest, increasing the food insecurity of the affected population.

The water level of the Zambezi River has been fluctuating for the past month, but seems to have stabilized; it is expected now to recede. Accessibility to the whole Kabbe constituency can only be realized by either water or air transport. Traditional canoes though still being used have become risky - and some five people were reported to have drowned after their canoe capsized. One case of death caused by crocodile was reported at Impalila Island last week, when a child attempting to gather water in the Zambezi was killed. Some villages in Katima rural can still be reached by land transport (4x4 vehicles) but most of the flooded areas are only accessible by air or water transport. The government is responsible for transporting all relie f goods and evacuation of people to safe areas. At the time of writing this report the government has allocated two helicopters from the Zimbabwe air force, a commercial helicopter, two trucks, four speed boats, an air boat and seven 4x4 pick ups.

Operational developments

The Namibia Red Cross received CHF 60,000 from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). These funds enabled the national society to begin relief and assessment activities. An RDRT consisting of three members from Namibia Red Cross and one from the Baphalali Swaziland Red Cross, and supported by the Federation's regional disaster response officer and regional water and sanitation officer, has been operational on the ground since Monday 29 March. Red Cross volunteers have been mobilized and trained in beneficiary selection and registration, relief distribution techniques and code of conduct. A total of 30 home-based care facilitators from the affected areas are also providing services in the camps: care for HIV/AIDS patients, hygiene and health education and support to orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS (OVC).

At the beginning of April the Namibia Red Cross immediately dispatched some 107 tents, 50 jerry cans and 52 mosquito nets from the national society's warehouse in Windhoek, which were distributed to relocated people and schools. A consignment from the southern Africa regional delegation disaster preparedness stock in Harare arrived in Katima Mulilo capital town of Caprivi district on 8 April. The relief goods included 500 family tents, 150 rolls of tarpaulins, 775 jerry cans, 2,000 blankets, 35 rolls of plastic sheeting and water and sanitation equipment to provide safe water to up to four evacuation sites (4 tanks, two pumps, 300m of lay flat pipe, 5 tap stands) and 20,000 water purification sachets enough for 400,000 litres safe water for those affected but not displaced in evacuation sites.

A second consignment including 2,000 blankets, 226 tents, 1,000 jerry cans, 60 sanplats3 and 3,000 bars of soap was dispatched, arriving on 19 April. Distribution is currently taking place to the 3,200 people relocated in the four designated camps. 200,000 water purification sachets have been purchased in South Africa and are en route to Caprivi. The water purification sachets will be distributed to the 20,000 affected people and will cover water requirements for a period of three.

The team has visited most of the worst affected areas by boat, helicopters or by road where it has been possible, as roads have in many places been cut off by the swollen river. The RDRT has been instrumental in organizing the evacuation sites by erecting tents, building sanitary facilities, and setting up water tanks in the largest camps in Lusese A and B. At present water is being supplied to the relocated via government water tankers which deliver water into the Red Cross water tanks. The people are disinfecting this water using the water purification sachets.

Water tankers transport water a distance of 50 km. Due to this long distance, a water supply system is planned to be constructed for the camps. The borehole source for this water system is 4 km from the camps. The Red Cross plans to purchase a pump and engine for this borehole and water will be pumped into two tanks provided by the government and then be distributed through gravity to the taps. The distribution pipes will be partly supplied by the government and partly by the Red Cross. The regional WatSan officer is assisting local authorities to restore water sources in Impalila Island to ensure that the population has adequate access to clean water. While this is in progress people here are being provided with water purification sachets. The camp at Kasika Island had adequate water supply. Ten latrines have been constructed at the island sites of Impalila and Kasika.

In all places visited good access to adequate treatment was available with sufficient supplies of first and second line drugs. Therefore, there is no risk of increased child mortality due to malaria in the flood affected areas at the moment. Only one health centre reported a steep threefold increase in patients with fever to 935 in the month of March, a figure which was already coming down to 605 in April. The sharp increase was mainly attributed to shifting populations and the thus increased catchment areas of the health centre as opposed to a local outbreak. In other heath centres the opposite trend could be observed. The ministry of health (MoH) has reallocated seven nurses from the less affected areas to the health centres to respond to the current shifts of patient load.

Health authorities have confirmed that clinics in the affected areas have stocked up on necessary medicine for the next three months, and there are plans to provide back-up services by placing more nurses on duty. Two clinics have been set up in the Lusese camps, and mobilization of mobile clinics is also being discussed. Food insecurity is chronic in the district, and the government is already engaged in food relief in the area due to drought. Part of that consignment will be used for people affected by the floods.

Findings on the demographic situation of affected areas:

1. It is estimated that Kabbe constituency is 98 % covered by water and is the most affected. Total population: 14,962 Number of households: 2,000 (5 people/each) Households with safe water: 0 % (51% in normal situation) Household without toilet facility: 96 %

2. It is estimated that 45% of Katima rural is flooded. Total population: 14,566. Number of households: 2,000 (5 people/each) Households with safe water: 10 % (85% in normal situation) Household without toilet facility 93 %

3. Other constituencies at risks are Sibinda, Linyanti and Kongola. These constituencies are moderately affected in terms of crop field that are submerged and are at risk of water and sanitation diseases due to contaminated water supply and limited sanitation facilities. Total population: 30,000 Number of households 4,000 (5 people/each)

For further information please contact:

Razia Essack-Kauaria, Secretary General, Namibia Red Cross, Windhoek, Email secgen@redcross.org.na; Phone 264.61.235.216; Fax 264.61 228.949

Will Corkill, Federation Programme Coordinator (acting), Southern Africa Regional Delegation, Harare; Email ifrczw08@ifrc.org; Phone 263.4.70.61.55 / 6; Fax 263.4.70.87.87

Terry Carney, Federation Regional Officer for Southern Africa, Africa Department, Geneva; Email terry.carney@ifrc.org; Phone 41.22.730.42.98; Fax 41.22.733.03.95

Footnotes:

1RDRT - Regional Disaster Response Team

2 The Zambezi River originates in the highlands of Angola and Zambia . It flows into Namibia's Caprivi Strip through the borders between Zambia and Zimbabwe before reaching Mozambique, emptying into the Indian Ocean.

3 SanPlat (sanitation platform) is a concrete latrine slab that can be integrated into any existing traditional latrine system.

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