|
Namibia Floods:
This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on 24 March 2009 for CHF 1,494,980
(USD 124,473 for 6 months to assist 20,000 beneficiaries.
Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF):
CHF 146,695 was initially allocated from the Federations DREF to support the
national society to respond.
Summary:
The Namibian Red Cross Society continues
to deliver the much needed
assistance for the people
affected by the floods in in
six regions of Northern
Namibia. The situation in
the affected areas is slowly
stabilizing. Mostly in the
four Os region the situation
is quite
stable. The Caprivi
region is still experiencing
some life threatening
situation as the areas
around the flood plains
still continues to be
flooded. The Zambezi river levels
seems to slowly subsiding
but the situation dawn
stream in the flood plains
still experience increasing
high water levels forcing
more communities to relocate
to higher ground. More
communities are expected to
be affected as thus requires
assistance in to be
relocated to safe areas as
the flood waters continues
to raise downstream.
Erection of shelter
New Camp Established at Bukalo
The provision of relief items as
well as the construction of
latrines and bathing
shelters
by the Namibian Red
Cross Society has enabled
the supported beneficiaries
to cope with the situation
in 22 relocation camps.
Some relief materials
procured have been received
and
some substantial support
provided to the
beneficiaries, additional
relief items have been
procured and are expected
soon.
It is however good to note
that according to the
Namibian Hydrology division
the flood levels in the
northwestern regions is
significantly
reduced. More
people are moving back to
their houses as the water is
slowly subsiding. The
Namibian Red Cross Society
expresses its
appreciation
on the support of both local
and international partners,
with regard to the coverage
of the emergency appeal.
The Namibian Red cross Society with
the support of the zone office of
the International Federation of the Red Cross launched its
Emergency Appeal on the 24 March
2009.
The flood is estimated to
have affected over 700 000 people in
the four northern regions.
In
Caprivi more people are being
relocated to the camps due to high levels of water. About 19000 people are estimated
to have been affected by floods and 10000 in Kavango Region.
Although two main rivers of Kavango
and Zambezi are subsidizing in the areas of Rundu
and Katima
Mulilo respectively, the situation
down stream towards the flood plains is getting out of hand. The water
levels keep on rising
and as a
result more people are being
relocated to higher grounds. In the four
northern regions Omusati,
Ohangwena Oshikoto and Oshana, the
floods subsiding, as the flow of water from
Angola along the Cuvelai the water
has reduced dramatically. As a
result some of the communities in the relocated camps are slowly returning to
their homes. The preliminary registrations in the camps in
Caprivi and Kavango show the
following statistics:
Total Number of Relocated people in Caprivi
Region preliminary findings
|
Constituency |
Relocation Camp |
Number of household |
Total Beneficiaries |
|
Kabbe |
Kabbe |
161 |
714 |
|
|
Lusese A |
211 |
579 |
|
|
Lusese B |
85 |
243 |
|
|
Lusese C |
80 |
405 |
|
|
Schuckmansburg |
655 |
2117 |
|
|
Kalimbeza |
177 |
550 |
|
|
Sifuha |
137 |
641 |
|
Katima Rural |
Mpyu/Mubiza |
146 |
480 |
|
|
Musanga |
107 |
298 |
|
|
Libula |
111 |
438 |
|
|
Namalubi |
40 |
162 |
|
|
Sikanjabuka |
57 |
231 |
|
Total Households affected in the
Region |
1967 |
6858 |
Other camps registration is still ongoing at
Bukalo, Kasika, Impalila, Mbalasinte,
Nakabolelwa, Ibilibinzi and Itomba. Please note
that in the previous situation reported, it was
reported based on the preliminary findings that
the total number of affected in Caprivi region
stood at 3,452.
Coordination and partnerships
The coordination of the response operation is
being headed by the Office of the Prime
Ministers Directorate of Emergency Management
(DEM) at the national level, while Regional
Emergency Management Unit coordinates at the
regional level.
The Floods Emergency Management Coordination
Office (FEMCO) is coordinating all flood
response activities in the Four Northern regions
headed by the Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of Regional Local Government and
Housing. The staff members of the Directorate of
Emergency Management are part of FEMCO. The
office has the overall responsibility of
coordinating emergency activities in the four
northern regions. Coordination meetings are held
every Wednesday with all the relevant
stakeholders, including the Namibia Red Cross
Society. As for Caprivi and Kavango regions
coordination of response activities is done
through the Regional Emergency Management Unit,
comprised of various stakeholders and the
meetings are held weekly to share information
and progress. At National level the Directorate
of Emergency Management calls weekly
coordination meetings with all the stakeholders.
The coordinating bodies are comprised of
different line ministries, United Nations
agencies (UNICEF, WHO, UNDP) and the Namibian
Red Cross Society, ensuring that the focus areas
of each stakeholder are clearly defined to avoid
overlap or duplication in response. Importantly
the National Society is a member of both the
national and regional coordinating bodies.
The National Society is being supported by the
in- country Federation Representative and the
southern Africa zone office, throughout the
emergency operation. The initial DREF
allocation has greatly improved the response
capacity of the NRCS in providing much needed
relief to the affected population in all six
areas. The zone office has also supported the
National Society by sending three communication
experts to help profile the response activities
of the NS and to report on the effects of
floods, focusing on the Kavango and Caprivi
regions.
National Society Capacity Building:
NRCS has a well established capacity in
emergency preparedness and response, considering
the frequent occurrence of natural disasters,
particularly in the north eastern part of the
country. The National Society is responding to
the disaster as rapidly and effectively as
possible, by mobilizing its resources (people,
money and other assets) and using its network in
a coordinated manner so that the initial effects
are countered and the needs of the affected
communities are met. Rapid action is required to
prevent further loss of life.
Currently, the National Society is utilizing its
trained regional disaster response team (RDRT)
members to conduct assessments, coordinate
distribution of relief items. Additionally the
Society is supported by Regional Disaster
Response Team (RDRT) member from Zambia RC to
support the emergency operation in the
north-eastern part of the country (covering
Kavango and Caprivi regions). This deployment
will complement the current staff component
which is overstretched due to the magnitude of
the disaster, and will increase the response
capacity of the NS through on the job training
and coaching. Further support was required for
deployment of ERU team on watsan to come and
assist in the Caprivi and Kavango Regions. The
team in the region is busy with the distribution
of shelter materials. Although on the job
coaching is being given to the volunteers, the
formal training is needed for the volunteers
involved in the operation. The training will
cover aspects such as hygiene promotion, camp
management and solid waster disposal.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action:
The Namibian Red Cross Society with support of
the International Federation has finalised a
detailed plan of action to guide the
implementation of the emergency operation across
all six identified regions. The action plan
will support the National Society with the
implementation of the outlined activities for a
period of six months, until the 30th of
September 2009.
Progress towards objectives:
|
Relief distributions (basic non-food items)
|
|
Objective: 4,000 flood affected households are provided
with appropriate non-food relief
items. |
|
Expected results |
Activities planned |
|
Relief items are distributed to 4,000 households in six
regions for a period of six months.
|
Distributing 8,000 blankets, 4,000 mosquito nets, 48,000
bars of soap and 2,000 hygiene kits-
to the relocated school kids and
lactating mothers.
Monitoring and evaluating the relief activities and
providing reporting on relief
distributions. |
Progress:
The following table outlines the items that have
been distributed since the beginning of the
operation cumulatively:
|
Regions |
Blankets |
Mosquito nets |
Kitchen Sets |
Plastic sheets |
Water markers |
Soap |
Tarpaulins |
Jerry Cans |
|
Ohangwena |
154 |
110 |
|
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
Omusati |
|
35 |
42 |
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
|
Oshana |
76 |
90 |
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
Oshikoto |
67 |
328 |
|
|
20,000 |
|
67 |
15 |
|
Kavango |
|
623 |
21 |
|
9000 |
|
81 |
174 |
|
Caprivi |
|
3183 |
805 |
257 |
40,180 |
44368 |
3945 |
173 |
|
Total distributed |
297 |
4,369 |
868 |
257 |
129,180 |
44368 |
4,145 |
362 |
All relief items are received by the
head/representative of each household on behalf
of the family. The relief items distributed to
date have helped the beneficiaries return to
their normal lives. Initial feedback from the
beneficiaries has been positive where the
distribution of blankets has been greatly
welcomed with the beginning of winter. In
addition mosquito nets have also been greatly
appreciated with regard to contributing to the
prevention of malaria.
To date all relief items that have distributed
were mobilised from the NRCS pre-position stock
and items that were recently acquired from the
partners and the federation through the Harare
warehouse. Additional items have been ordered
and are currently being mobilised and are
expected to arrive in Namibia before the end of
April 2009.
Challenges:
There are currently some challenges with regard
to the coordination among other stakeholders in
terms of their operational plans.
The limited supply of relief materials
in-country has resulted in the need to mobilise
resources from outside Namibia resulting in
delays.
Most of the needed materials especially
construction materials for sanitation are not
readily available in the regions making it
difficult to implement and maintain sphere
standards.
There is still difficulties in accessing some
areas to undertake relief distributions, some
areas are only accessible by boat and thus make
it difficult to locate the people.
Sanitation at other relocation camps where the
water table is below 1metere is still a
challenge and there is a need to a quick
response to avoid further calamities in the near
future in these camps.
There situation which is still unfolding in the
Mukwe constituency and Flood plains of Caprivi
Regions creates a worrisome situation where by
more people are being relocated.
|
Emergency Health and Care
|
|
Objective: To reduce health risks,
morbidity and mortality as a result
of the emergency on the affected
population through the provision of
health promotion, preventive,
community-level and PHC services to
4,000 households in (geographic
areas) for six months. |
|
Expected results |
Activities planned |
|
Mortality and morbidity as a result
of the emergency are reduced in
target population and health
services are supported through a
primary health care oriented
programme. |
Providing 20 volunteer modules of
the cholera kits towards
community-based activities at
affected communities under the
Ministry of Health (MoH).
Mitigate the effects of cholera by
developing the capacity of
provincial Red Cross Offices in
active case finding correct
preparation, use and distribution of
Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and
in surveillance.
Supporting the Government organized
mass vaccination campaign through
social mobilisation activities and
or independent monitoring in
coordination with MoH/WHO/UNICEF.
Pre-positioning additional supplies
such as cholera kits and ORS sachets
as a contingency stock for up to
10,000 persons.
Training volunteers in target
branches on Community Based Health
and First Aid (CBHFA) and on
Epidemic Control for Volunteers
training package with emphasis on
malaria and water-borne illnesses. |
|
The scope and quality of the NS
involved in health and care services
are improved. |
Training 150 community-based
volunteers on health promotion.
Sustain health promotion campaigns
within the affected population
focusing on malaria and water-borne
diseases targeting 4,000 households
in affected areas.
Distributing IEC materials for
health education and hygiene
promotion campaign (such as posters,
flyers).
Supporting Reproductive Health (RH)
and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV)
activities including protection of
women, girls and children.
Training 50 volunteers on emergency
health within the next six months.
|
Progress:
Volunteers trained on PHAST have been mobilised
to provide health and hygiene community
mobilisation activities. This immediate and fast
response has reduced the chances of losses of
lives, and the possible outbreak of communicable
diseases in the floods stricken areas. These
activities are ongoing to ensure that
communities continually receive the necessary
support to prevent the outbreak of water-borne
disease.
Supporting the initial mobilisation of
volunteers, an additional 78 NRCS volunteers
have been provided training in health and
hygiene promotion and water and sanitation
practices in Ohangwena, Oshana and Kavango
regions. Following the training these
volunteers have been mobilised to provide
education and increased awareness on the
prevention of communicable diseases.
Preparations are underway to train more
volunteers on health emergencies and gender
issues with the support of the MoH and Ministry
of Gender and Child Welfare. And an additional
300 volunteers will be provided with first aid
training which is planned to be conducted soon.
Challenges:
Lack of proper coordination with the
stakeholders involved in health issues, hampers
the progress in some planned activities.
|
Water, sanitation and hygiene
promotion |
|
Objective: The risk of waterborne
and water related diseases has been
reduced through the provision of
safe water, adequate sanitation as
well as hygiene promotion to 4,000
families in Oshana, Omusati,
Ohangwena, Oshana, Kavango, Kunene
and Caprivi regions
|
|
Expected results |
Activities planned |
|
Safe water is provided to 4,000
families displaced by floods.
|
Distributing ,600,000 water
purification powder sachets.
Distributing household level water
storage facilities (i.e. jerry cans)
to 4,000 households. |
|
Appropriate sanitation, including
excreta disposal, solid waste
disposal and drainage, is provided
to 4,000 families
|
Assisting with construction of 100
temporary latrines.
Assisting with construction of 100
temporary bathing shelters.
Assisting with vector control and
prevention measures.
Assisting in waste disposal
measures. |
|
The health status of the population
is improved through hygiene
promotion activities and behaviour
change. |
Training 150 community-based
volunteers on hygiene promotion.
Conducting hygiene education and
health promotion campaigns within
the affected population focusing on
behaviour change and targeting a
total of 4,000 households in the
affected regions.
Providing information, education and
communication (IEC) material on
hygiene promotion (printed materials
(posters, flyers, etc), manuals,
educational materials, etc). |
Progress:
The initial actions that have been conducted in
support of providing access to safe water and
sanitation facilities for the affected
population have include the distribution of
129,180 water purification tablets across all
regions ( refer to the distribution table). The
provision of water purification tablets has
enabled households to effectively treat
contaminated water supplies, providing access to
safe water to avoiding the outbreak of
diarrhoeal diseases.
A total of 43 pit latrines and 37 bathing
shelters have been constructed in the relocation
camps established by the government of Namibia.
The following table outlines the location of
these actions:
|
Region |
Pit latrines constructed |
Bathing Shelters |
|
|
|
|
|
Ohangwena region |
8 |
6 |
|
Omusati region |
7 |
9 |
|
Oshana region |
12 |
12 |
|
Kavango regions |
27 |
15 |
|
Caprivi |
32 |
58 |
|
Total |
86 |
100 |
To date no outbreak of hygiene or water related
disease has been reported in six regions
affected by the floods, and the contribution of
the NSs activities could be directly linked to
this outcome.
Challenges:
The high water table remains a challenge with
regard to the construction of latrines, stands
between 0.5 to 1 meter thereby calling for built
up latrines.
Shortage of stage of trained manpower on latrine
construction.
Additional latrines are needed in the camps as
the number of displaced people continues to rise
daily.
The Society has exhausted its stock of water
purification tablets and more are expected to
arrive in the next shipment of relief stocks.
|
Shelter |
|
Objective: 4,000 most vulnerable
flood-affected families in Namibia
are living in a safe and healthy
environment within six months of the
beginning of the operation. |
|
Expected results |
Activities planned |
|
The targeted 4,000 displaced
households are provided with shelter
material and are living with dignity
|
Distributing tents to 1,000
families.
Providing 3,000 households with
tarpaulins and shelter kits.
Shelter training provided to
National Society staff and
volunteers. |
Progress:
Shelter is becoming an increasing issue for the
affected populations. To date NRCS has provided
a total of 4,145 tarpaulins to the following
regions. In addition to the items provided by
the NRCS, staff and volunteers have assisted in
the establishment and setting up of management
systems for 41 relocation camps as the situation
continues to develop further down streams of the
Zambezi and Kavango rivers the number of
relocation camps is expected to rise.
Challenges:
More households are being displaced and there is
a need for more shelter materials.
|
Logistics |
|
Objective: To support the relief
operations, delivering a range
of relief items in line with the
operational priorities
|
|
Expected results
The operation has coordinated
mobilization of relief goods;
reception of all incoming goods;
warehousing, centralized
provision of standard vehicles
as required; and coordinated and
efficient dispatch of goods to
the final distribution points
|
Activities planned
Procuring and distributing
relief supplies and controlling
supply movements from point of
dispatch to end user.
Monitoring and evaluating relief
activities and reporting on
relief distributions.
Establishing appropriate
warehouses and arranging
transportation to distribution
points.
|
Progress:
The procurement and mobilisation of relief items
is currently is partially done by the
International Federation logistics department in
the southern African Zone office. Some of the
materials procured through the zone office were
received. Refer to the table below. In addition
the procurement of relief materials which are
available locally is also currently underway.
|
Item |
Total Planned According to the
Emergency Appeal |
No dispatched (Received) |
No. still to be ordered |
|
Blankets |
8,000 |
2,000 |
4,800 |
|
Mosquito netting |
4,000 |
3000 |
1,000 |
|
Jerry cans |
8,000 |
3000 |
5,000 |
|
Kitchen sets |
4,000 |
1,000 |
3,000 |
|
Shelter kits |
3,000 |
1500 |
0- no more needed |
|
Shelter tarpaulins and plastic
sheeting |
|
3,000 |
3000 |
|
Shelter prefabricated shelter tents |
1,000 |
|
1,000 |
|
Water purification tablets |
600,000 |
|
1 million |
|
First aid kit |
250 |
|
250 |
|
Cholera kit |
20 |
|
10 |
|
Soap & detergent |
48,000 |
|
|
|
Hygiene kits |
2,000 |
|
2,000 |
|
Communications Advocacy and Public
Information |
|
Objective: text To better profile
and position the NS as a leading
organisation in disaster management
in Namibia |
|
Expected results |
Activities planned |
|
Increase the overall visibility and
positioning of the Namibia Red Cross
in strategic areas, and create new
resources to strengthen the general
communication aspects of the NS.
Forster synergies and facilitates
joint approaches through engaging
different partners in the operation
|
Send stories to the media to the
media about the Red Cross response
activities, twice a month for
three months.
Give press release as necessary;
organize radio/TV talk on response
activities carried out
Share reports/ update with all the
partners national and international.
Produce a response brochure/DVD
after three months |
Progress
A number of communication and public information
activities have been undertaken including:
Press conference held on the 20th March 2009 for
the launch of the Public Appeal.
The Launch of the Emergency
Appeal covered by the local and international
media
Assessment reports and situation reports are
shared will all
the participating stakeholders, PNS, and
Delegates.
In Namibia one radio session on national radio
used to disseminate the information about the
floods.
In the Zone, interviews have been conducted with
various news agencies highlighting the need for
further assistance for the affected populations.
The Information officer has arranged a media
tour to the affected regions.
|
How we work |
|
All
International Federation assistance
seeks to adhere to the
Code of Conduct for the
International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement and
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's)
in Disaster Relief
and is committed to the
Humanitarian Charter and Minimum
Standards in Disaster Response
(Sphere) in delivering assistance to
the most vulnerable.
|
|
The International Federations
activities are aligned with its
Global Agenda, which sets out four
broad goals to meet the Federation's
mission to "improve the lives of
vulnerable people by mobilizing the
power of humanity". |
Global Agenda Goals:
Reduce the numbers of deaths,
injuries and impact from disasters.
Reduce the number of deaths,
illnesses and impact from diseases
and public health emergencies.
Increase local community, civil
society and Red Cross Red Crescent
capacity to address the most urgent
situations of vulnerability.
Reduce intolerance, discrimination
and social exclusion and promote
respect for diversity and human
dignity. |
|
Contact information
|
|
For further information specifically
related to this operation please
contact:
In Namibia:
Dorkas Kepembe-Haiduwa; Secretary
General, Email
secgen@redcross.org.na;
Phone: Tel: +264.61.235.216; Fax:
264.61.228.949
In Namibia: Getachew Taa;
Federation Representative; Email:
getachew.taa@ifrc.org;
Phone: Mobile: 264 811 229 838 Tel:
+264 61 235 228; Fax: +264.263.286
In Southern Africa Zone: Franoise
Le Goff, Head of Zone Office,
Johannesburg;
Email :
francoise.legoff@ifrc.org;
Phone: Tel: +27.11.303.9700;
+27.11.303.9711;
Fax: +27.11.884.3809;
+27.11.884.0230
In Southern Africa Zone: Disaster
Management Department: Farid Aiywar;
Email:
farid.aiywar@ifrc.org;
Phone: Mobile: +27.83.440.0564 Tel:
+27.11.303.9700;
+27.11.303.9721; Fax:
+27.11.884.3809; +27.11.884.0230
In Geneva: John Roche, Operations
Coordinator, Email: john.roche@ifrc.org;
Phone:
+41.22.730.4400, Fax:
+41.22.733.03.95
For Pledges towards this floods
operation:
In Southern Africa Zone: Laurean
Rugambwa; Resource Mobilisation
Coordinator,
Email
zonerm.southafrica@ifrc.org;
Phone: Tel: +27.11.303.9700; Fax:
+27.11.884.3809;
+27.11.884.0230
For Media
enquiries:
In Southern Africa Zone: Matthew
Cochrane; Communication Coordinator,
Email matthew.cochrane@ifrc.org;
Phone: Tel: +27.11.303.9700; Mobile:
+27.83.395.5266;
Fax: +27.11.884.3809;
+27.11.884.0230
For Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation
and Reporting (PMER) enquiries:
In Southern Africa Zone: Theresa
Takavarasha; PMER Manager,
Email
terrie.takavarasha@ifrc.org;
Phone: Tel +27.11.303.9700; Mobile:
+27.83.413.3061;
Fax: +27.11.884.3809;
+27.11.884.0230 |
|
