29 Apr 2026

In a response to severe and persistent floods situation in Khwai Botswana Red Cross Society has activated a Disaster Response Emergency Fund DREF.

The fund will embark on a drought response initiative, named Flood Response Project, to address the immediate humanitarian needs of affected population.

The project  will run for six months with the aim to stabilise living conditions, reduce health and protection risks and support early recovery where feasible.

It will target the most affected and vulnerable households including families whose shelters were damaged and those that experienced severe livelihood disruption.

Botswana Red Cross Society Counsellor, Ms Karabo Muzila informed the District Disaster Management Committee that successful implementation of the project would depend on collaboration with district leadership and other key stakeholders.

Ms Muzila said the project was aimed at providing timely, coordinated and dignified humanitarian assistance to flood affected households in Khwai.

She said the overarching objective was to promptly stabilise living conditions for affected families, reduce immediate health, sanitation and protection risks and enable early livelihood recovery where conditions allows.

“This project adopts an integrated multi-sectoral approach to ensure that assistance addresses the interconnected needs created by the floods rather than responding to individual needs in isolation,” she added.

She said more attention would be given to households with children under the age of five, pregnant and lactating women, elderly-headed households and families facing compounded vulnerabilities.

Through the project, Ms Muzila said victims will be offered immediate financial relief for purchasing food and meeting essential needs.

According to Ms Muzila, about 150 households would receive blankets and mattresses and 50 would get tents and tarpaulins for immediate shelter.

Victims will also be provided with portable solar lights, issued with vouchers for quality building materials to repair their shelter.

Furthermore, Ms Muzila highlighted that food vouchers would be given to 50 vulnerable households to address malnutrition risks over two months through retail partners while 50 farmers will receive agricultural input vouchers.

With regard to health component, she said given the risk of malaria, diarrhoea and other public health threats, some interventions will be put in place citing risk communication and community engagement to raise awareness of disease prevention, early health-seeking behaviour and safe practices.

Ms Muzila said psychosocial support would also be integrated to address both physical and emotional impacts on the affected households and responders.

Assistant District Commissioner, Ms Omphile Mogorosi welcomed the project saying it would minimise the impact and prevent further suffering.

Ms Mogorosi assured BRCS support from the disaster committee to ensure smooth implementation and success of the relief project.

She concurred that the floods situation had left many households in a panic attack due to displacement and loss of essentials, adding that psychosocial support was critical to combat long term trauma caused by loss of home and livelihoods.

In addition, she said the families also needed medical relief and urging Red Cross officials to consider increasing drugs availability in the local health facility as well as mosquito nets.

She noted that flooding created stagnant water, which served as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, causing spikes in malaria and diarrhea diseases.

Due to severe rainfall that resulted in widespread flooding across multiple districts, Khwai village experienced high volume of rainfall that led to overflowing water bodies which significantly disrupted the lives of the communities.

The floods destroyed mud huts leaving families displaced and exposed to harsh weather conditions while many households lost essential belongings including bedding, clothing and food further deepening their vulnerability.

Beyond physical damage, the floods interrupted income generating activities as access routes became impassable resulting in livelihood shocks that reduced households’ income. ends