The north of Namibia needs better flood preparation

AllAfrica.com, via the Namibian: The flood-stricken North can no longer follow the business-as-usual approach and needs to become pro-active and prepared in future, the Director General of the National Planning Commission, Peter Katjavivi, said when he opened the Eenhana Trade and Business Expo at the weekend. "From all accounts it is clear that we cannot continue on a 'business-as-usual' road. We need to be proactive and be better prepared for any future floods.

"We need to reduce the vulnerability of our people, avoid or reduce by all means the loss of lives. We need to have more resilient infrastructure in place and to strengthen our procedures," Katjavivi said.He expressed concern over the economic losses suffered by the regions devastated by floods earlier this year, especially in the private sector. The flooding in six northern and northeastern regions claimed more than 100 lives and caused severe damage to local infrastructure.

Research gathered for a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, which is being finalised by Government and the World Bank, indicated that the private sector in the flooded regions had suffered more than the public sector in terms of lost assets and income….