President warns against exaggerated flood-affected aid beneficiary lists
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for accurate records of residents whose mahangu fields have been flooded, urging that cases be investigated while evidence of flood damage is still visible. She stressed that proper verification is essential to prevent individuals who were not affected from being included on the list of government aid beneficiaries.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks on Saturday at an Ohangwena relocation camp during a visit to the northern regions to assess the impact of heavy rains and floodwaters from neighbouring Angola.
Addressing local headmen, she emphasised that only those whose mahangu fields have genuinely been flooded should receive assistance when the time comes.
"Those with flooded fields should inform councillors and governors and register now before the water in those fields dries up. Once people register, I implore councillors to go and verify that indeed these fields are flooded,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah cautioned that adding unaffected individuals to aid lists poses serious challenges for the government, noting, as an example, that in cases where only 10 residents genuinely need assistance, as many as 50 are listed.
“Now those 10 who really needed the help, we are unable to assist fully because the situation has been exaggerated. The same thing happened with war veterans. You all know. The government had good intentions to help the war veterans, but the people who were given the responsibility just wrote the list of long, endless people," she said.
"The problem now is no one will tell you who was supposed to be written. We like covering ourselves. Now the problem is with those who have not received anything because the situation has been exaggerated. I do not want the same thing to happen in regard to assisting people who have been affected by the flood,” she stressed.
Good record-keeping
As of 18 April, the Ohangwena Region has recorded 201 households relocated, totalling 1 075 people. Seven relocation centres have been opened in the region, namely Onamhinda A and Onamhinda B in the Oshikango constituency, Onamukalo and Ohangwena in the Ohangwena constituency, as well as Ouhongo and Ohaingu in the Engela constituency. Some learners are being housed at Udjombala Secondary School.
The president also emphasised the importance of secure food storage, transparent management and timely distribution to ensure that vulnerable households receive the support they need.
She added that government does not expect to be distributing food aid beyond June, as the current rainy season has left the fields looking promising.
Ohangwena regional governor Sebastian Ndeitunga assured the president that the regional leadership will ensure a smooth process of registration for those affected by the floods.
Ndeitunga also told Nandi-Ndaitwah that efforts to provide long-term infrastructure development and better preparedness for future disasters are crucial for enhancing resilience in the affected communities. - [email protected]
Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks on Saturday at an Ohangwena relocation camp during a visit to the northern regions to assess the impact of heavy rains and floodwaters from neighbouring Angola.
Addressing local headmen, she emphasised that only those whose mahangu fields have genuinely been flooded should receive assistance when the time comes.
"Those with flooded fields should inform councillors and governors and register now before the water in those fields dries up. Once people register, I implore councillors to go and verify that indeed these fields are flooded,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah cautioned that adding unaffected individuals to aid lists poses serious challenges for the government, noting, as an example, that in cases where only 10 residents genuinely need assistance, as many as 50 are listed.
“Now those 10 who really needed the help, we are unable to assist fully because the situation has been exaggerated. The same thing happened with war veterans. You all know. The government had good intentions to help the war veterans, but the people who were given the responsibility just wrote the list of long, endless people," she said.
"The problem now is no one will tell you who was supposed to be written. We like covering ourselves. Now the problem is with those who have not received anything because the situation has been exaggerated. I do not want the same thing to happen in regard to assisting people who have been affected by the flood,” she stressed.
Good record-keeping
As of 18 April, the Ohangwena Region has recorded 201 households relocated, totalling 1 075 people. Seven relocation centres have been opened in the region, namely Onamhinda A and Onamhinda B in the Oshikango constituency, Onamukalo and Ohangwena in the Ohangwena constituency, as well as Ouhongo and Ohaingu in the Engela constituency. Some learners are being housed at Udjombala Secondary School.
The president also emphasised the importance of secure food storage, transparent management and timely distribution to ensure that vulnerable households receive the support they need.
She added that government does not expect to be distributing food aid beyond June, as the current rainy season has left the fields looking promising.
Ohangwena regional governor Sebastian Ndeitunga assured the president that the regional leadership will ensure a smooth process of registration for those affected by the floods.
Ndeitunga also told Nandi-Ndaitwah that efforts to provide long-term infrastructure development and better preparedness for future disasters are crucial for enhancing resilience in the affected communities. - [email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article