Marthina Mutanga
THE devastating drought in Kunene Region is keeping children out of school because they have migrated to some of the towns in order to survive.
The Governor of the Kunene Region, Marius Sheya said the regional authority is looking for the best solution to mitigate the unfolding disaster and assist children to continue with their school careers.
In this regard, social support will be provided by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Child Welfare, and the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
Sheya said that the impact of climate change continues to weigh heavily on the vulnerable communities and farmers leaving them with no choice but to move in search of grazing for their animals while those that have everything moved to towns to look for other opportunities.
Sheya confirmed that his office together with the Kunene Regional Council is committed to foster support during this time.
“We have created a task team to work on mitigating the effects of the drought with key stakeholders such as farmers’ unions and traditional authorities.
He said constant stakeholder engagement is vital in this response to coordinate, mobilize resources, monitor, and evaluate the drought situation as well as the planning assistance, and reporting on assistance received.
“As such, strategic interventions targeted towards relief is a matter of priority to all,” he said.
The Namibian Government has assisted communities with both human and livestock interventions since 2019. Two years ago the Namibian Government availed N$21 million to the Kunene Region for water provision and 16 boreholes were drilled, 19 water points were installed and 18 boreholes have been rehabilitated, Animal fodder and Food parcels were also availed.
According to Sheya, in 2021, the following Government interventions have been made this far; the Cabinet, at its meeting resolved to introduce food assistance for affected residents provide water and water services to needy communities introduced a livestock programme that included subsidies for the lease of grazing and for transportation of livestock to from grazing.
These interventions will be reviewed regularly, but are to cover Kunene, affected communities in some parts of Erongo and Omusati Regions.
Subsequent to cabinet decision the following have been received in the region Items received under OPM an additional 1200 bags of maize meal were received for the marginalized communities of Ohaiuha, Otjimuru, Otjikoyo, and Otjanjazemo.
Assist farmers with the transportation and vaccination of livestock. Given the relocation of people to the outskirts of urban areas for shelter and food, access to clean drinking water is provided daily through the provision of 10 000 litre water tanks for both human and livestock consumption.
