26% of Namibians food insecure - report
• 2023 declared warmest year
Erratic rainfall and flooding interrupted livelihoods and the cropping season last year, according to a Namibia Meteorological Service report.
The number of people projected to be affected by food insecurity between October 2023 and March this year is estimated at 695 000, or 26% of the population, and will cost the country N$892.4 million in food relief.
This is according to the ‘State of the Climate in Namibia 2023’ report by the Namibia Meteorological Service. It said as the world declared 2023 the warmest calendar year on planet earth, Namibia’s average temperature was a modest warming of 21.5 degrees Celsius, 0.3 above the 1991 to 2020 level.
The bulk of warming was observed during April, October and November.
According to the report, November 2023 was the warmest month of the year at 25.6 degrees, 1.7 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 average, followed by October with 24.8 degrees, 1.1 degrees above the long-term average.
Warming towards the end of the year can largely be attributed to the ever-increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, the El Nino and, to a lesser extent, to the warm phase of the solar cycle, it said.
Failure
The bulk of the country received less rainfall during 2023 than usual, while above-average rainfall was observed over very limited areas.
However, average rainfall was confined to eastern Khomas, western Otjozondjupa and the northern regions, but over 80% of this rainfall was observed during the period from November to December last year.
“The 2022/2023 rainfall season ending in April 2023 was generally a failure, with Omusati, Oshana, Kunene, Erongo, western Khomas, western Hardap, western //Karas and western Omaheke experiencing below-average rainfall.”
This was the second consecutive poor rainfall season in Oshana, Omusati and Kunene, it said.
“Although January 2023 was wetter than usual in the northern regions, the period from February to April 2023 was below average and led to the failure of the 2022/2023 rainfall season.”
Flood waters from neighbouring Angola invaded western areas of Ohangwena during the third week of January last year and disrupted livelihoods, including the cropping season, according to the report.
Over four hundred households were affected and close to 150 households were relocated to higher ground.
Furthermore, some schools in the area were temporarily closed, while the cropping season was disrupted with little to no activity during and immediately after the event and insignificant rainfall in subsequent months.
Most of the western areas reported either extreme drought or severe drought on decile rankings.
“This led to the government launching the drought-relief programme, which consists of food supplies, water provision and livestock support to address the drought impacts,” it said.
This is according to the ‘State of the Climate in Namibia 2023’ report by the Namibia Meteorological Service. It said as the world declared 2023 the warmest calendar year on planet earth, Namibia’s average temperature was a modest warming of 21.5 degrees Celsius, 0.3 above the 1991 to 2020 level.
The bulk of warming was observed during April, October and November.
According to the report, November 2023 was the warmest month of the year at 25.6 degrees, 1.7 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 average, followed by October with 24.8 degrees, 1.1 degrees above the long-term average.
Warming towards the end of the year can largely be attributed to the ever-increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, the El Nino and, to a lesser extent, to the warm phase of the solar cycle, it said.
Failure
The bulk of the country received less rainfall during 2023 than usual, while above-average rainfall was observed over very limited areas.
However, average rainfall was confined to eastern Khomas, western Otjozondjupa and the northern regions, but over 80% of this rainfall was observed during the period from November to December last year.
“The 2022/2023 rainfall season ending in April 2023 was generally a failure, with Omusati, Oshana, Kunene, Erongo, western Khomas, western Hardap, western //Karas and western Omaheke experiencing below-average rainfall.”
This was the second consecutive poor rainfall season in Oshana, Omusati and Kunene, it said.
“Although January 2023 was wetter than usual in the northern regions, the period from February to April 2023 was below average and led to the failure of the 2022/2023 rainfall season.”
Flood waters from neighbouring Angola invaded western areas of Ohangwena during the third week of January last year and disrupted livelihoods, including the cropping season, according to the report.
Over four hundred households were affected and close to 150 households were relocated to higher ground.
Furthermore, some schools in the area were temporarily closed, while the cropping season was disrupted with little to no activity during and immediately after the event and insignificant rainfall in subsequent months.
Most of the western areas reported either extreme drought or severe drought on decile rankings.
“This led to the government launching the drought-relief programme, which consists of food supplies, water provision and livestock support to address the drought impacts,” it said.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article