User:ShelbyGraham/sandbox

The primary victims of the 2008 floods were those living in the northern Namibian regions of Omusati, Oshikoto, Oshana, Ohangwena, and Caprivi. These regions are the most densely populated in the nation with an estimated 859,975 people, almost half of the total population. The climate of northern Namibia can be described as semi-arid with high temperatures. The rain patterns are unpredictable, with varying amounts and timing, although the rainy season tends to fall from November to April. The soil is composed largely of a sand and clay mixture, which is not ideal for crop production due to its inability to hold water, low nutrient content, high salt content, and the hard layers of clay that lie below the surface. The majority of the people living in the rural areas of northern Namibia rely on subsistence farming, but these properties result in high levels of chronic food insecurity in these regions. These threats are exacerbated by poor health outcomes, as large swaths of the population do not have access to adequate medical services. HIV/AIDS is especially prevalent in the area, with an estimated 23% of Namibians aged 15 to 49 testing HIV-positive.