More than 350 000 people have been affected by floods and torrential rain in Namibia that could trigger a major food shortage, the United Nations said on Friday.

The figure represented an increase of 150 000 over the previous estimate the UN's humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) gave a week ago.

"More than 350 000 people are currently affected in Namibia," said OCHA spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs, warning that crops have been damaged since the flooding began in January.

"Some 544 000 people could be affected by food insecurity in 2009 to 2010," she said at a media briefing.

Yields from harvests in the country are expected to fall by 63 percent, according to OCHA, while more than half the roads in the flood-stricken northern regions have been damaged.

About 13 000 people have fled their homes, including 9000 who have been housed in camps set up by Namibian authorities.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba declared a state of emergency in the north last week.

Meanwhile, about 160 000 people are now thought to have been affected by flooding just across the border in Angola, Byrs said.

The estimate is expected to increase as relief workers reach areas that have been cut off by the flood waters.

AFP