Envaalde Matheus
Namibia is yet to confirm how many of its nationals are currently affected by the ongoing US-Iran war in the Middle East – a move that raises concerns about the government readiness to evacuate the affected.
Other countries like China and several European states have begun evacuating their citizens. The ongoing war has also affected the transportation of oil from the part of the world, Future Media Namibia Reports.
While the international relations ministry says it is seized with the matter, analysts warn the crisis exposes gaps in planning, government capacity, and weaknesses in diaspora registration.
International relations analyst, Marius Kudumo, says countries must anticipate crises, noting that while independent evacuations are difficult, Namibia can rely on allies and embassies must maintain close contact with citizens.
“If you don’t have the facilities to do it yourself, you rely on relations with other countries that can assist. At the very least, you must ensure that citizens, wherever they are, are in relatively safe areas. Diplomatic circles often have information that ordinary citizens may not have,” he said.
Political analyst, Ndumba Kamwanyah, says the situation may reflect limited embassy capacity and expertise, and that countries usually start evacuation plans when flights are blocked or civilians are in danger.
“Limited staffing and technical know-how to manage evacuations during conflict can be a challenge. Proper crisis planning requires systems to already be in place so governments can act proactively, not only once conflict has escalated,” he said.
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