Botswana Faces Severe Flooding: Response and Relief Efforts in 2025
In February 2025, heavy rains caused severe flooding across Botswana, affecting 14 districts and leading to school closures, evacuations, and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure. The Botswana Government and the Red Cross are mobilizing efforts to support affected populations amid worsening conditions.
In February 2025, from the 19th to the 21st, Botswana experienced severe flash flooding across multiple districts—including Boteti, Gaborone, Ghanzi, and more. Rainfall peaked at 235 mm in Kokotsha and 160 mm in Mogoditshane, resulting in significant home flooding, submerged roads, and the contamination of water supplies.
The floods severely impacted communities, affecting children, pregnant women, the elderly, and migrants, especially in low-lying regions across 14 districts. Schools were temporarily closed from February 20 to 24; however, only Linchwe II Junior Secondary School reopened earlier on February 17 due to significant flooding. By February 26, a total of 2,318 individuals had been evacuated and thousands were displaced.
As of March 2, 2025, 402 individuals remained in evacuation centers, with several roads closed, limiting access further. This flooding followed a warning from the Botswana Government issued on February 19, indicating expectations of above-average rainfall that could worsen the conditions. Climate factors such as La Niña exacerbated the flooding situation.
In response to the extensive impact from the storms and floods since late 2024, the Government of Botswana solicited assistance from the Botswana Red Cross Society to aid affected communities. The national disaster taskforce, which includes BRCS, is mobilizing additional resources to address the crisis, targeting approximately 9,000 individuals across various districts, including Ghanzi and Kgatleng, through the DREF allocation.
The flooding in Botswana from February 19 to 21, 2025, significantly affected numerous districts, leading to home flooding, school closures, and displacement of thousands. The Government of Botswana, alongside the Botswana Red Cross Society, is actively working to support those impacted. Continuous rainfall predictions indicate a potential for worsening conditions, emphasizing the need for a robust emergency response.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
