2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods are a continuing natural disaster which began in early March 2009 and have resulted in the deaths of at least 131 people and have otherwise affected around 445,000 people. The floods have affected seven regions of Namibia
, three provinces of Zambia
, two regions of Angola
and part of Botswana
. The floodwaters have damaged buildings and infrastructure and displaced at least 300,000 people. A state of emergency has been declared in northern Namibia and there are fears that a disease epidemic could ensue. The Red Cross
agencies and governments of the two countries have responded to the disaster, and aid has been distributed by the World Health Organisation.
lasted from February to March and affected 250,000 people in Namibia with 42 people losing their lives. The floods this year have primarily been caused by heavy rain; more rain has fallen on the region since December than fell in the entire five-month rainy season of last year. As a result the flooding this year has been worse than that usually experienced. It has been reported that the floods could be the worst in the area for four decades. The Angolan National Institute of Meteorology has placed the cause of the heavy rain with a large equatorial depression which is expected to remain over the country until April when it will start to move southwards. One report has blamed the continuing heavy rain on the effects of the meteorological phenomenon La Niña
.
The worst affected province has been Cunene, which lies on the Cuvelai River. Within Cunene alone 125,000 people have been affected by the flood and 25,000 have lost their homes. Across the country more than 30,000 people have been made homeless by the floods. There are fears that the floods could exacerbate diseases already present in the area, particularly cholera
and malaria
. Three cases of cholera have also been reported in Ondjiva
, the capital of Cunene region, and local officials expect that number to increase. The Red Cross reports that so far there have been 19 deaths attributable to flooding in Angola.
has risen to 8.62 m, the second highest depth recorded and the highest since 1969. The Okavango terminates in Botswana at the inland Okavango Delta
and the Botswanan government has issued an alert to those living alongside the river to move to higher ground. The government has evacuated 63 families amid concerns that flooding will worsen, particularly in the Chobe District
. More than 400 people have been displaced as a result of the floods and the Botswana Defence Force
is working to help those affected.
, Ohangwena, Oshana
, Oshikoto
, Caprivi
, Kavango and Kunene
. The worst affected regions have been Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto which lie on the Cuvelai River. In the Caprivi Region floodwaters have reached areas up to 20 km from where the river normally flows. Up to 300,000 people have been affected by the floods in Namibia which have displaced around 276,000 people. The floods have destroyed crops, houses, schools, medical centres and roads in the country whose president, Hifikepunye Pohamba
, has said could be experiencing one of the worst natural disasters in living memory. Gravel road
s have been particularly affected with up to 85% of those in affected areas being damaged and cutting people off from assistance. People and livestock have been washed away and there have been cases of crocodile
s and hippopotamus
es swimming in the flood water, attacking and killing people. There was a pre-existing cholera outbreak in the Kunene Region
and the floods have worsened this by overwhelming sanitation infrastructure and reducing supplies of clean drinking water. Malaria cases have also increased, with 2,000 known to have contracted the disease of which 25 have died. The Namibian government has stated that 112 people have died so far as a result of flooding.
President Pohamba has stated that a food shortage could follow the floods and the United Nations
has estimated that crop production in Namibia will fall by 63% in the next year and that up to 500,000 people could be affected by a food shortage. Local food prices have already risen by 37% because of the disaster.
, Northwestern and Southern Provinces
. The damage to infrastructure alone totals more than $5 million and one district, Shangombo
, remains cut off from outside help completely. The floods have affected 20,000 households and destroyed 5,000 homes in the Southern Province alone.
in Zimbabwe
and the Cahora Bassa Dam
in Mozambique
will protect countries on the lower Zambezi from flooding caused by rainwater in the upper river. The Red Cross is also keeping watch on Severe Tropical Storm Izilda which is heading for Mozambique
's east coast and could cause further flooding there.
is distributing mosquito net
s, water purification tablets and rehydration sachets and the Namibia Red Cross Society
has been distributing chlorine tablets and promoting hygiene in the affected areas. The World Health Organization has also responded with the delivery of five tonnes of health care kits and supplies of drinking water. There are fears that the global financial crisis may limit the effectiveness of aid agencies who are already over-stretched across Africa. Displaced persons camp
s have been established in Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati in Namibia and currently hold around 4,500 people although they are said to be overcrowded and lacking in fresh water and sanitaion provision. The World Health Organisation has sent several healthcare teams into the area to train emergency personnel and to provide expertise in disease prevention. The floods coincided with a visit to Angola by Pope Benedict XVI
, who expressed solidarity with the flood victims and encouraged reconstruction efforts. The Namibian national power company, NamPower
, has donated food worth N$
50,000 to those who have lost their homes in the areas near to Ruacana Hydro-electric Power Station
which accounts for 70% of the country's electricity needs. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
has launched an appeal for $1.3 million to fund relief operations to assist 20,000 people in Namibia.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, three provinces of Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, two regions of Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and part of Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
. The floodwaters have damaged buildings and infrastructure and displaced at least 300,000 people. A state of emergency has been declared in northern Namibia and there are fears that a disease epidemic could ensue. The Red Cross
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human...
agencies and governments of the two countries have responded to the disaster, and aid has been distributed by the World Health Organisation.
Origins
The border regions of Angola, Namibia and Zambia are dominated by small rivers which flood regularly during the rainy season from December to April. Floods in 20082008 Namibia floods
The 2008 Namibia floods began in early February 2008 and killed 42 people by early March. An estimated 250,000 people, primarily in the former Ovamboland regions of Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto, were left stranded without outside access except by helicopter, with another 65,000 facing...
lasted from February to March and affected 250,000 people in Namibia with 42 people losing their lives. The floods this year have primarily been caused by heavy rain; more rain has fallen on the region since December than fell in the entire five-month rainy season of last year. As a result the flooding this year has been worse than that usually experienced. It has been reported that the floods could be the worst in the area for four decades. The Angolan National Institute of Meteorology has placed the cause of the heavy rain with a large equatorial depression which is expected to remain over the country until April when it will start to move southwards. One report has blamed the continuing heavy rain on the effects of the meteorological phenomenon La Niña
La Niña
La Niña is a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that is the counterpart of El Niño as part of the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate pattern. During a period of La Niña, the sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean will be lower than normal by 3–5 °C...
.
Angola
Angola has been affected by floods within two of its provinces: Cuando Cubango and Cunene.The worst affected province has been Cunene, which lies on the Cuvelai River. Within Cunene alone 125,000 people have been affected by the flood and 25,000 have lost their homes. Across the country more than 30,000 people have been made homeless by the floods. There are fears that the floods could exacerbate diseases already present in the area, particularly cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
and malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. Three cases of cholera have also been reported in Ondjiva
Ondjiva
Ondjiva is a town located in southern Angola. It is the administrative capital of Cunene Province.- Transport :...
, the capital of Cunene region, and local officials expect that number to increase. The Red Cross reports that so far there have been 19 deaths attributable to flooding in Angola.
Botswana
Botswana has been affected by the rising height of the Okavango RiverOkavango River
The Okavango River is a river in southwest Africa. It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa, running southeastward for . It begins in Angola, where it is known as the Cubango River...
has risen to 8.62 m, the second highest depth recorded and the highest since 1969. The Okavango terminates in Botswana at the inland Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta , in Botswana, is the world's largest inland delta. It is formed where the Okavango River empties onto a swamp in an endorheic basin in the Kalahari Desert, where most of the water is lost to evaporation and transpiration instead of draining into the sea...
and the Botswanan government has issued an alert to those living alongside the river to move to higher ground. The government has evacuated 63 families amid concerns that flooding will worsen, particularly in the Chobe District
Chobe District
Chobe District is a district of Botswana, with the headquarters in Kasane. Until 2006, it shared with Ngamiland the North-West District Council as local government. Chobe National park is in the Chobe District...
. More than 400 people have been displaced as a result of the floods and the Botswana Defence Force
Botswana Defence Force
The Botswana Defence Force is the military of Botswana. It was formed in 1977 and has approximately 9,000 members. The commander is Lieutenant General Tebogo Masire. The commander in chief is the President of Botswana...
is working to help those affected.
Namibia
Seven regions of Namibia have been affected by the flood: OmusatiOmusati
Omusati region is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. Uutapi at Ombalantu forms a natural centre for this region. Mopani tree is the dominant species; the Makalani palms decrease rapidly westwards from the border with Oshana region...
, Ohangwena, Oshana
Oshana
Oshana is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. The name Oshana lends itself well to this region as it describes the most prominent landscape feature in the area, namely the shallow, seasonally inundated depressions which underpin the local agro ecological system...
, Oshikoto
Oshikoto Region
Oshikoto is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. The northern part of the region is agricultural, whereas the main economic activities in the southern part are cattle rearing and mining...
, Caprivi
Caprivi Region
Caprivi is one of the 13 regions of Namibia. It takes its name from the Caprivi Strip which in turn was named after Leo von Caprivi.-Geography:...
, Kavango and Kunene
Kunene Region
Kunene is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia and home to the Himba ethnic group. Compared to the rest of Namibia, it is relatively underdeveloped...
. The worst affected regions have been Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto which lie on the Cuvelai River. In the Caprivi Region floodwaters have reached areas up to 20 km from where the river normally flows. Up to 300,000 people have been affected by the floods in Namibia which have displaced around 276,000 people. The floods have destroyed crops, houses, schools, medical centres and roads in the country whose president, Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba is the second and current President of Namibia. He won the 2004 and 2009 presidential elections overwhelmingly as the candidate of the South West Africa People's Organisation ruling party, taking office in March 2005. He has also been the President of SWAPO since...
, has said could be experiencing one of the worst natural disasters in living memory. Gravel road
Gravel road
A gravel road is a type of unpaved road surfaced with gravel that has been brought to the site from a quarry or stream bed. They are common in less-developed nations, and also in the rural areas of developed nations such as Canada and the United States. In New Zealand, they are known as 'metal roads'...
s have been particularly affected with up to 85% of those in affected areas being damaged and cutting people off from assistance. People and livestock have been washed away and there have been cases of crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s and hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
es swimming in the flood water, attacking and killing people. There was a pre-existing cholera outbreak in the Kunene Region
Kunene Region
Kunene is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia and home to the Himba ethnic group. Compared to the rest of Namibia, it is relatively underdeveloped...
and the floods have worsened this by overwhelming sanitation infrastructure and reducing supplies of clean drinking water. Malaria cases have also increased, with 2,000 known to have contracted the disease of which 25 have died. The Namibian government has stated that 112 people have died so far as a result of flooding.
President Pohamba has stated that a food shortage could follow the floods and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
has estimated that crop production in Namibia will fall by 63% in the next year and that up to 500,000 people could be affected by a food shortage. Local food prices have already risen by 37% because of the disaster.
Zambia
Zambia has experienced flooding in the WesternWestern Province, Zambia
Western Province, encompasses the area formerly known as Barotseland in the colonial era.-Districts:Western Province is divided into 7 districts:*Kalabo District*Kaoma District*Lukulu District*Mongu District*Senanga District*Sesheke District...
, Northwestern and Southern Provinces
Southern Province, Zambia
Southern Province is one of Zambia's nine provinces, and home to Zambia's premier tourist attraction, Mosi-oa-Tunya , shared with Zimbabwe...
. The damage to infrastructure alone totals more than $5 million and one district, Shangombo
Shangombo
The small town of Shangombo located in Shangombo District in the Western Province of Zambia is one of the most remote towns in the country. It lies on the eastern bank of the floodplain of the Cuando River, and the bank forms the border with Angola.Shangombo town lies at the end of a sandy road,...
, remains cut off from outside help completely. The floods have affected 20,000 households and destroyed 5,000 homes in the Southern Province alone.
Elsewhere
Although this particular flood event has been worse than previously experienced in Namibia and Angola, there have been lower levels of flooding elsewhere in the region, such as on the Zambezi River, and the rainy season is expected to last just four more weeks. It is expected that the Kariba DamKariba Dam
The Kariba Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is one of the largest dams in the world, standing tall and long.- Construction :...
in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and the Cahora Bassa Dam
Cahora Bassa Dam
The Cahora Bassa Dam system is the largest hydroelectric scheme in southern Africa with the powerhouse containing five turbines. It is one of the three major dams on the Zambezi river system, the others being Kariba and Itezhi-Tezhi. However, Itezhi-Tezhi is not on the main stream of the Zambezi,...
in Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
will protect countries on the lower Zambezi from flooding caused by rainwater in the upper river. The Red Cross is also keeping watch on Severe Tropical Storm Izilda which is heading for Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
's east coast and could cause further flooding there.
Reactions
President Pohamba has declared a state of emergency across six northern districts, and has requested international assistance. The Namibian state relief fund has been active in the region delivering water, food, tents and other supplies to flooded areas by helicopter and motorboat. However it is hindered by a shortage of both aircraft and boats, and is running out of funding. The Red Cross agencies in both Angola and Namibia have responded to the disaster. The Angola Red CrossAngola Red Cross
Angola Red Cross also known as ARC was founded in 1978. It has its headquarters in Luanda.-External links:**...
is distributing mosquito net
Mosquito net
A mosquito net offers protection against mosquitos, flies, and other insects, and thus against diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and various forms of encephalitis, including the West Nile virus, if used properly and especially if treated with an insecticide, which can double...
s, water purification tablets and rehydration sachets and the Namibia Red Cross Society
Namibia Red Cross Society
Namibia Red Cross Society also known as NRC was founded in 1992. It has its headquarters in Windhoek-External links:***...
has been distributing chlorine tablets and promoting hygiene in the affected areas. The World Health Organization has also responded with the delivery of five tonnes of health care kits and supplies of drinking water. There are fears that the global financial crisis may limit the effectiveness of aid agencies who are already over-stretched across Africa. Displaced persons camp
Displaced persons camp
A displaced persons camp or DP camp is a temporary facility for displaced persons coerced into forced migration. The term is mainly used for camps established after World War II in West Germany and in Austria, as well as in the United Kingdom, primarily for refugees from Eastern Europe and for the...
s have been established in Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati in Namibia and currently hold around 4,500 people although they are said to be overcrowded and lacking in fresh water and sanitaion provision. The World Health Organisation has sent several healthcare teams into the area to train emergency personnel and to provide expertise in disease prevention. The floods coincided with a visit to Angola by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
, who expressed solidarity with the flood victims and encouraged reconstruction efforts. The Namibian national power company, NamPower
NamPower
NamPower is the national power utility company of Namibia. NamPower was founded in 1964 as the "South West Africa Water and Electricity Corporation" by the government of South Africa. Its offices are located in Windhoek...
, has donated food worth N$
Namibian dollar
The dollar has been the currency of Namibia since 1993. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively N$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
50,000 to those who have lost their homes in the areas near to Ruacana Hydro-electric Power Station
Ruacana
Ruacana is a town in Omusati Region, northern Namibia and the district capital of the Ruacana electoral constituency. It is located on the border with Angola on the river Kunene. The town is known for the picturesque Ruacana Falls nearby....
which accounts for 70% of the country's electricity needs. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is a humanitarian institution that is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the ICRC and 186 distinct National Societies...
has launched an appeal for $1.3 million to fund relief operations to assist 20,000 people in Namibia.