{"id":64094,"date":"2024-03-02T15:57:56","date_gmt":"2024-03-02T15:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/rainstorm-destroys-homes-in-eemhunda"},"modified":"2024-03-02T17:33:12","modified_gmt":"2024-03-02T17:33:12","slug":"rainstorm-destroys-homes-in-eemhunda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/rainstorm-destroys-homes-in-eemhunda","title":{"rendered":"Rainstorm destroys homes in Eemhunda"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Namibia. <\/strong><\/span>A HEAVY rainstorm has left villagers of Eemhunda in the Okalongo Constituency with no shelter, food, and disrupted business activities on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The heavy rainstorm was reported to have occurred between 20:00 and 02:00, leaving people picking up their belongings one after another.<\/p>\n

Rafael Eduardo (67) said the storm destroyed many of their properties and mahangu fields. Many of the zinc sheets blown off buildings were found at a distance from the houses.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am now fixing the damaged zinc sheets that were blown away by the storm, although they are badly damaged. With their mahangu fields completely destroyed, they are worried that they will not be able to harvest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need food and material assistance to restart our lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Another resident, Pendukeni Hifindako (38), indicated that the storm badly affected his business, resulting in damage to materials and equipment that will be costly for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy welding machines and other materials were damaged, and getting my business off the ground again will be costly for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

At this stage, Hifindako said the total value of the damage is unknown, as he will have to assess the situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not know what to do anymore. This business was my livelihood, and I have lost everything in the blink of a night,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n

Okalongo Constituency Councillor Laurentius Iipinge said that he is aware of the matter and will be writing a report to the Office of the Governor, which will then be sent to the Office of the Prime Minister for further intervention.<\/p>\n

At this stage, Iipinge indicated that his office has no aid to help the affected family members, and they are waiting for the traditional authority to provide them with a detailed report on how many homesteads were destroyed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce the report is issued, we will know how many people were already registered for drought relief, and the rest will be added to the list as their mahangu fields were destroyed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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