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Namibia floods displace thousands, worms ravage crops
20 Mar 2008
 Source: AlertNet

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•  Food and hunger

•  Southern African floods

•  Floods

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By Alex Klaushofer

LONDON (Reuters AlertNet) - Floods in northern Namibia have displaced thousands of people, spread cholera and ravaged food crops, which are also being hit by fast-breeding army worms.

With damage to roads cutting many people off from health services, the Namibian government has declared a state of emergency and appealed to the international community for assistance.

Up to 60,000 people have been displaced, according to the Namibian Red Cross, and initial reports from regional authorities suggest that up to 29 people have died in the floods.

The worst-affected areas are Caprivi, Oshana, Omusati and Ohangwena and Oshikoto, aid agencies and local officials say.

The Namibian authorities and humanitarian organisations are concerned about the spread of water-borne disease. They report an outbreak of cholera, with 123 suspect cases, according to the U.N. World Health Organisation, at least four of which have been confirmed. Two people have died.

The Namibian Red Cross Society has also launched a public appeal, and is stressing the need for mosquito nets and water purification tablets to combat the spread of disease.

There are fears that the heavy rains that caused the floods will damage harvest prospects for 2008. As well as water-logging agricultural land, the rains have caused an outbreak of army worms, a fast-breeding pest that devours any green plants in its path.


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Namibia

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