Over 94 000 benefit from govt drought aid in Oshana
More than 94 000 people benefit from drought relief aid that has been rolled out by the government across the country, new statistics provided by the Oshana Regional Council show.
The data was shared in response to a Namibian Sun enquiry regarding the region's preparedness to assist families finding it hard to make ends meet, a situation worsened by the current drought.
Government has budgeted over N$820 million for the current drought relief programme.
According to the regional council’s accounting officer, Teopolina Hamutumwa, the region is ready to distribute food to all approved drought relief beneficiaries.
In terms of food assistance for affected families, Hamutumwa said the council has dedicated four trucks that have been successfully transporting drought relief food to the centres in all constituencies. As for livestock support, the registration process is ongoing.
“The council has registered a total of 21 362 households with a total of 94 289 beneficiaries. Of these total households, 18 286 households with a total of 87 249 beneficiaries have so far been approved by the Office of the Prime Minister and have been receiving drought relief support on a monthly basis,” she explained.
“When the Office of the Prime Minister improved the criteria threshold from N$2 600 to N$3 100, to widen the support of food insecure families, an additional number of 3 076 eligible households were registered and submitted to the office for approval. Hence the difference between the approved and registered beneficiaries," Hamutumwa added.
Moreover, she explained that the total number of farmers who could benefit "is not yet known because the registration process is still ongoing.”
Asked about the challenges faced in terms of rolling out the relief aid, Hamutumwa said that not all eligible beneficiaries are currently receiving support due to the approval process.
“It is a challenge because the number of eligible beneficiaries is increasing more frequently,” she said.
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The data was shared in response to a Namibian Sun enquiry regarding the region's preparedness to assist families finding it hard to make ends meet, a situation worsened by the current drought.
Government has budgeted over N$820 million for the current drought relief programme.
According to the regional council’s accounting officer, Teopolina Hamutumwa, the region is ready to distribute food to all approved drought relief beneficiaries.
In terms of food assistance for affected families, Hamutumwa said the council has dedicated four trucks that have been successfully transporting drought relief food to the centres in all constituencies. As for livestock support, the registration process is ongoing.
“The council has registered a total of 21 362 households with a total of 94 289 beneficiaries. Of these total households, 18 286 households with a total of 87 249 beneficiaries have so far been approved by the Office of the Prime Minister and have been receiving drought relief support on a monthly basis,” she explained.
“When the Office of the Prime Minister improved the criteria threshold from N$2 600 to N$3 100, to widen the support of food insecure families, an additional number of 3 076 eligible households were registered and submitted to the office for approval. Hence the difference between the approved and registered beneficiaries," Hamutumwa added.
Moreover, she explained that the total number of farmers who could benefit "is not yet known because the registration process is still ongoing.”
Asked about the challenges faced in terms of rolling out the relief aid, Hamutumwa said that not all eligible beneficiaries are currently receiving support due to the approval process.
“It is a challenge because the number of eligible beneficiaries is increasing more frequently,” she said.
[email protected]
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