Namibia PDNA 2009 - GFDRR

Rail and Air Transport
There was no disruption to the services provided by rail and air, nor to the existing
railway line, and air strips. The embankment of the rail line under construction between
Ondangwa and Oshikango was cut off at one location, but a culvert of adequate size
was installed, in a short time.
Communication
No damage occurred to the telecommunication and postal services infrastructure.
However, in some locations telecom towers were built in areas vulnerable to flooding
and need to be relocated.
Needs
Figure 18: Flood affected roads
Reconstruction efforts in the transport and communication sector are typically done in stages. First, to open the roads to traffic,
an emergency repair work must be carried out. This work has already been completed by the Roads Authority and the roads are
passable (except in few locations where the traffic has to use short distance bypasses).
The Roads Authority has spent about N$18.8 million for the emergency repair work that has allowed traffic movement to be
restored to acceptable levels. Second, the road sections that were fully damaged have to be reconstructed not only to their pre-flood
condition, but to a standard that they will be usable during the rainy seasons in the future. Further, damages to the pavements have to
be corrected and proper re-gravelling and surfacing work will have to be carried out in the near future. This is an immediate task that
requires about N$223 million (including the amount spent on emergency repair in the amount of N$18.8 million).
As a matter of urgency, the roads that are vulnerable to flooding will have to be provided with adequate drainage structures, and
bridges and culverts will have to be installed at locations where there is running as well as standing water for a longer period of time.
This emergency mitigation measure demands about N$193 million.
In the event that heavy rain and flooding of the magnitude of the 2009 floods or higher reoccur in these areas, appropriate mitigation
measures must be undertaken to make the roads flood resilient. Based on the nature and extent of the flooding observed over
the last two years, the mitigation measures that will help to create flood resilient roads in rural and urban areas are estimated to be
N$2.39 billion.
The roads in the Cuvelai Basin (northern Regions), mainly the district roads, are not constructed up to a standard capable of
withstanding heavy rains and floods, as well as allowing quick movement of excess water. Improving standards of the main and district
roads, vulnerable to flooding and heavy rain storms (1,139 km of gravel roads) in the six Regions, is estimated to cost about N$1.575
billion. In addition, the 600 km of roads that connect schools and clinics, and that are located far from all weather roads and that are
proposed for construction is estimated to cost N$680 million. Finally, roads that would improve stormwater management in urban
areas would require some improvement at N$136 million.
Activity
Table 13: Transport sector needs
Value
(N$ million)
Value
(US$ million)
Urgent Reconstruction (short-term)
Rehabilitation of road 223 27.4
Urgent construction of bridges and culverts 193 23.7
Improving standards (long- term) 0.0
Upgrading of critical roads 1,575 193.3
Access to critical services and villages 680 83.4
Improve stormwater management in Oshakati and Ondangwa 136 16.7
Source: Estimations by PDNA Team
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Namibia POST-DISASTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT