THE scale of this year's floods is unprecedented both in terms of force and size and so too should be our national response to mitigate the effects thereof.

Our national response to this natural disaster has to be full scale, adequate and equally long term, if we are to save lives and property now and in future. Already, people have died and property destroyed by the force of the water in the northern regions. It is not far-fetched to speculate that more lives could still be lost unless appropriate measures are taken to save lives.

The floods mainly cover the four northern regions of Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena and parts of Oshikoto as well as the Kavango and Caprivi regions. Latest indications are that the Kavango River is swelling with mass water. Its force has led huge volumes of water to spill into homes that are now submerged by water.

Up to 36 or more homesteads at Sikondo village in the Kapako constituency of the Kavango Region are under water. The Kavango Regional Council plans to relocate 105 people that are affected by the floods.

The Caprivi Region too has its fair share of flood problems with villages and crop fields under water. Scores of people in that region are affected while animals are being moved to high ground already in anticipation of further floods.

It is, however, in the four northern regions of Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena and parts of Oshikoto where the situation is desperate. Here, towns and villages are simply overwhelmed by the size and force of the floodwater.

Massive land is submerged by water, leaving little space or room for people to go on with their lives. In fact, the water has followed them into their lands and homes. With that comes a myriad of problems ranging from hunger to diseases.

The situation in the four regions has reached almost crisis point with towns and villages completely cut off by water. Many villages are inaccessible because most roads have been washed away by the water.

Reports indicate that under these circumstances, many people are unable to visit towns to source food or to reach clinics and hospitals. Hence, there is potential for people to starve or simply die from diseases that could otherwise be treated at nearby hospitals and clinics.

The situation in the north is dire with people experiencing all sorts of problems from lack of basic necessities like food and health care to drinking water. Scores of school children are simply sitting at home and not in class because classes have been suspended indefinitely.

It is these massive problems that all arms of government and indeed other social partners including our foreign friends must deal with head on.

Of course, there is no quick fix to many of these problems, neither would it be easy to tackle them at once save for minimising the effects while long term solutions are found to deal with future floods.

While government is seized with the matter, it would appear more needs to be done to help people in the north. The President and indeed other leaders have been to be regions and no doubt are working on an appropriate response to the flood situation in the affected regions.

However, it is one thing to come up with proper response and another to implement the necessary measures. Experience tells us that there are always problems when it comes to implementing relief measures.

Food and other necessities are either delivered late or simply disappear. There are numerous cases of such misdemeanours. Other instances are those of food and basics being left to rot in warehouses while people go hungry. Sometimes tenders are awarded to companies with no capacities to handle big and urgent operations such as these.

These and other logistic problems have to be addressed as a matter of urgency before work can start in earnest to help those affected by the current wave of floods. Greater coordination at the highest levels is of paramount importance.

Last but not least, let the offices concerned hatch long-term plans and solutions to the problems posed by natural disasters from floods to drought. Granted, these disasters are not man-made but caused by natural forces and may not be avoided. However, their impact on communities and the economy can be minimised if appropriate plans are put in place.