N$115 million needed for corona fight
N$115 million needed for corona fight

N$115 million needed for corona fight

Ellanie Smit
ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK



The Prime Minister's Office, whose budget is more than N$421.4 million, has requested a further N$115.2 million under the National Disaster Risk Programme this financial year for the country's coronavirus response.

Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said in her budget motivation in the National Assembly that the Disaster Risk Programme took responsibility for the pandemic response in March. A special account was opened to receive cash donations. “We have to date received payments into this account amounting to N$39.9 million,” she said.



Expenditure

She said N$16.8 million has been paid from the account: N$14.2 million for food assistance to affected households, N$73 600 for transportation to quarantine facilities and N$1.3 million for medical equipment for the health ministry. An amount of N$258 697 was also paid for the renovation of isolation facilities at the Hosea Kutako International Airport and accommodation and meals for law enforcement agencies.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said besides cash donations, the government also received non-cash donations of about N$151 million, consisting of medical equipment, food items and protective equipment.N$15 million from the National Emergency Disaster Fund has been spent on face masks for learners through the education ministry.

N$5 million has been allocated for masks for elderly and vulnerable people through the trade ministry, while N$16 million has been made available to the regions to cover water provision and cleaning of markets and medical facilities.



Drought relief

N$595.2 million was budgeted for drought relief coordinated by the Disaster Risk Programme last year. The drought-relief budget was supplemented by donor funding.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said N$124.8 million was used to provide food to 172 000 households. A further N$37 million was used for logistics, while water provision to all regions, including drilling boreholes, amounted to N$246.7 million. These amounts were transferred to regional councils for speedy implementation. “Livestock support got N$71.8 million, including provision of animal fodder which was procured from government green schemes. Also included herein is a programme to enhance fodder production at green schemes through conventional planting at various green schemes and a hydroponic pilot project at Etunda irrigation scheme.”

Seed production received N$9.95 million from last year's budget.

The drought emergency ended in March this year.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

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