About 600 years ago people settled in the Cuvelai area because of the ephemeral oshanas (shallow water courses). Taking advantage of the abundant woody vegetation, with water infrastructure introduced by the missionaries and colonists, the population soared. The oshanas that were once one of the main reasons for people to settle in the area are increasingly becoming a challenge. Due to the rapid population increase and associate demands for more land, more and more people build their houses in the oshanas during the dry period when there is no water in these shallow water bodies. However, when the rainfall season comes and the oshanas fill with water, these houses are flooded and it even happens that people drown.