Overview of the Botswana Floods (DREF Operation MDRBW008) – March 2025
Flash flooding in Botswana from February 19 to 21, 2025, resulted in widespread damage across multiple districts, impacting thousands of residents. The floods disrupted education, led to evacuations, and compromised sanitation systems. The Botswana Government and the Red Cross are providing support to individuals affected by this disaster.
Between February 19 and 21, 2025, Botswana experienced significant flash flooding due to heavy rainfall, particularly affecting the Boteti, Gaborone, Ghanzi, South-East, Kweneng, Kgalagadi, Mogoditshane, and Kgatleng districts. Rainfall levels peaked at 235mm in Kokotsha and 160mm in Mogoditshane. The flooding led to submerged homes, disrupted transportation, and compromised water sanitation systems across multiple areas.
An assessment conducted from February 21 to 24 revealed that numerous individuals, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly, were affected, especially those in low-lying regions across fourteen districts. In response, schools were temporarily closed from February 20 to 24, with Kgatleng District schools reopening only on March 4. Emergency evacuations were mandated, with 2,318 individuals relocated to safety and many others displaced.
As of March 2, 2025, 402 individuals remained in evacuation centers, while the remainder were allowed to return home. The flooding situation resulted in the closure of major roads, further hampering access to affected areas. The government had issued warnings on February 19, anticipating continued above-average rainfall worsened by La Niña conditions.
In light of the challenging situation, the Botswana Government, through impacted districts, sought assistance from the Botswana Red Cross Society to aid the affected communities. The ongoing effects of the severe storms and floods since late 2024 have strained response capacities, prompting the formation of a national disaster taskforce. The Red Cross aims to provide support to 9,000 individuals (3,167 households) in Ghanzi, Kgatleng, Tlokweng, and Gaborone through this DREF allocation.
The flash floods in Botswana from February 19 to 21, 2025, caused significant disruptions, impacting thousands of lives and leading to temporary school closures and evacuations. The Botswana Government, alongside the Botswana Red Cross Society, is working to provide necessary assistance to the affected communities. Ongoing climatic challenges, exacerbated by La Niña, highlight the imperative for collaboration and resource allocation to effectively respond to such natural disasters.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
