Without drinking water, Namibian villagers risk drowning in wells
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on The Namibian
In Onkaankaa, in the Omusati region of northern Namibia, a public borehole drilled in 2024 produces water that is too salty and residents dig traditional wells 8 to 9 metres deep. According to resident Helena Shaanika, two of her brothers drowned in them, in 2008 and in 2020.
Residents of Onkaankaa, a village in the Omusati region of northern Namibia, have no running water and draw their drinking water from deep traditional wells, The Namibian reports. The borehole drilled by the government in 2024 produces water that is too salty to drink and does not work.
On Friday, more than 20 residents, mostly elderly people and young people, gathered to dig a well. These wells sometimes reach 8 to 9 metres in depth. Villagers sometimes spend several days in them to reach enough water. According to resident Helena Shaanika, two of her brothers drowned in them, one in 2008 at the age of nine, the other in 2020. She considers it dangerous to go down a deep well to fetch water.
The village head, Muno Shaanika, said some 300 households depend on these wells. He estimates that more than eight people have drowned over the years, about one every two years. Livestock also suffer from the lack of water: according to Helena Shaanika, animals have died of thirst and the village’s earth dam is dry.
The Omusati region is already at the centre of land degradation weakening food production, reported on 1 October.
