One life lost in Oshikoto water crisis
Man drowns in well
The water interruptions and water scarcity plaguing the northern regions of the country have claimed another life.
The persistent water scarcity in the Oshikoto Region has led to the death of a 34-year-old man who drowned in a well while fetching water at Ohailungu village in the Nehale Lya Mpingana constituency on Saturday.
According to a police report, while Sackeus Kuunda was hauling water from the well, a stick broke, causing the full bucket to fall onto him.
Those who were fetching water with him started calling out to him from outside the well, but he was unresponsive.
Police said one person climbed down into the well and found Kuunda’s body under water.
They pulled him out, but he was declared dead on the scene.
‘Sad and regrettable’
Oshikoto regional council senior public relations officer Petrus Nehale said they received the “sad and regrettable” news of Kuunda’s death.
“Council would like to convey its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family for their loss,” he said.
In a media statement issued yesterday, he said the council is aware of and sincerely regrets the water challenges experienced by some communities, especially in rural constituencies like Okankolo, Eengodi and Nehale Lya Mpingana.
In collaboration with the water ministry, the council has secured 10 water tank trucks to provide emergency water supply to affected communities in the region, Nehale told Namibian Sun.
“They will be based at Onankali. So far, one from [the Namibian Defence Force] and one from [the forestry ministry] have arrived. With private trucks, we are at an advanced stage of finalising the procurement process,” he said.
Limited resources
The spokesperson stressed that they are hard at work, in collaboration with the ministry and within the parameters of their mandate and limited resources at their disposal, to address the shortage of potable water in the region and ultimately to prevent future loss of life due to water scarcity.
According to him, communities that are critically faced with water shortage and are not registered under the water tanker programme will be registered at their respective constituency offices.
Nehale said council allocated an amount of N$634 615 during the current financial year for rural development programmes, and this will be utilised in the construction of short water pipelines.
According to a police report, while Sackeus Kuunda was hauling water from the well, a stick broke, causing the full bucket to fall onto him.
Those who were fetching water with him started calling out to him from outside the well, but he was unresponsive.
Police said one person climbed down into the well and found Kuunda’s body under water.
They pulled him out, but he was declared dead on the scene.
‘Sad and regrettable’
Oshikoto regional council senior public relations officer Petrus Nehale said they received the “sad and regrettable” news of Kuunda’s death.
“Council would like to convey its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family for their loss,” he said.
In a media statement issued yesterday, he said the council is aware of and sincerely regrets the water challenges experienced by some communities, especially in rural constituencies like Okankolo, Eengodi and Nehale Lya Mpingana.
In collaboration with the water ministry, the council has secured 10 water tank trucks to provide emergency water supply to affected communities in the region, Nehale told Namibian Sun.
“They will be based at Onankali. So far, one from [the Namibian Defence Force] and one from [the forestry ministry] have arrived. With private trucks, we are at an advanced stage of finalising the procurement process,” he said.
Limited resources
The spokesperson stressed that they are hard at work, in collaboration with the ministry and within the parameters of their mandate and limited resources at their disposal, to address the shortage of potable water in the region and ultimately to prevent future loss of life due to water scarcity.
According to him, communities that are critically faced with water shortage and are not registered under the water tanker programme will be registered at their respective constituency offices.
Nehale said council allocated an amount of N$634 615 during the current financial year for rural development programmes, and this will be utilised in the construction of short water pipelines.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article