Lindsay Dentlinger
18 August 2003
Windhoek — NAMIBIA will be harder hit by drought this year than last year, says Government's Emergency Management Unit (EMU).
Following extensive countrywide assessments in recent months, the unit estimates that some 400 000 people might need food aid in the coming months - 55 000 more than last year.
Cabinet is expected to discuss how to respond to the situation tomorrow.
According to the EMU's Deputy Director, Gabriel Kangowa, Caprivi tops the list of regions as it is suffering from the effects of both drought and floods.
The southern regions of Karas and Hardap, where there is virtually no grazing for livestock, also face severe hardships.
Last year Government spent N$140 million on drought aid, but Kangowa said it was too early to tell what support will cost this year.
He said his unit, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, is still determining what is required to meet communities' water needs.
Drilling new boreholes, rehabilitating existing ones and the laying of new pipelines are being considered.
Although still not finalised, drought aid is likely to consist of food distribution as well as boosts to the Food for Work, Cash for Work, and School Feeding Programme.
Kangowa said the northern regions of Oshikoto, Omusati and Ohangwena will not be able to harvest enough maize and mahangu (millet) to feed people there - and in some areas like the Kavango, there is likely to be only a month's supply.
In the farming areas such as Otjozondjupa, an appeal has been made for farmers to sell their cattle and to keep only those which can definitely be sustained.
Farmers in the Tsumkwe and Opuwo areas have been identified as needing urgent assistance in this year's drought relief programme.
The EMU is proposing assistance to farmers in the form of transporting cattle to grazing areas and paying for the lease of grazing areas.
Fodder will, however, not be provided.
In the past this has proved to be open to abuse.
The start of assistance will depend on Cabinet's approval of a drought relief plan.
The last aid was distributed from September 2002 to May this year.
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