SUPPORT: Millions have been mobilised to support drought relief targeting more than 160 000 people in Namibia. Photo: FILE
SUPPORT: Millions have been mobilised to support drought relief targeting more than 160 000 people in Namibia. Photo: FILE

N$52 million mobilised for drought support

Boost for food relief efforts
Targeting direct assistance for around 163 000 people in Namibia, the relief efforts will focus on food assistance, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as protection from gender-based violence.
Ellanie Smit
More than N$52 million has been mobilised to support Namibia’s response to the ongoing drought crisis, with the assistance targeting over 160 000 people.

The United Nations mobilised US$3 million through the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) in close coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister.

Anthea Basson, head of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Windhoek, said the initiative aims to deliver immediate assistance to vulnerable communities, complementing interventions to build long-term resilience.

The funding decision by the UN follows a visit by the Office of Reena Ghelani, the UN's climate crisis coordinator for the El Niño Response and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Regional Office in July, which advocated for UN support at regional and global level, as well as from development partners.

Basson said in a statement that Namibia is facing one of its most severe droughts, influenced by the El Niño climate pattern, which has significantly impacted agriculture and food security across the nation.



Government assisted

The crisis threatens the livelihoods of communities, particularly in the Omaheke, Kavango East and Kavango West regions, which are classified as Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) 4.

Basson said the US$3 million funding aims to complement the government’s drought response plan to scale up lifesaving interventions to reach extremely vulnerable households in the most severely drought-affected locations.

The UN intervention will be implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) and UN's Population Fund (UNFPA) over the course of six months.

Basson explained the total number of people targeted for assistance is approximately 163 000 across the sectors of food assistance, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as protection from gender-based violence.

“The UN will oversee the implementation in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister, national and local partners to ensure the effective distribution of food and services to those in most need," she said.

These efforts not only address the immediate crisis but also lay the foundation for long-term resilience, focusing on strengthening local supply chains, enhancing nutritional knowledge, and building community feedback mechanisms, she explained.

The integrated approach is designed to ensure accountability and transparency, with monitoring mechanisms established to protect the rights of affected communities and promote sustainable livelihoods.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

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