Niël Terblanché
The arrival of drought relief food in Nehale Lyampingana Constituency on Monday brought joy and relief to beneficiaries who were surprised to receive an extra 50kg bag of rice alongside their monthly drought food parcel.
The unexpected addition to their food aid was part of a consignment of 27,200 bags of rice donated by the Chinese government to aid Namibia’s ongoing drought relief efforts.
Two soldiers from the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), tasked with distributing drought relief food in the region, embarked on their journey at the start of the week, closely followed by a crew from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
According to a social media post by the OPM, the soldiers’ day began with a routine inspection of their truck before loading the food parcels destined for Nehale Lyampingana Constituency.
“The team covered nearly 400 kilometres to ensure that all beneficiaries at Olukapa Centre received their fair share of aid but their journey was not without challenges,” the OPM said in the post.
The delivery team’s truck broke down and threatened to delay the operation, but it was swiftly repaired.
The OPM said that shortly after, heavy rainfall made the roads treacherous.
“However, the determined team took swift action, covering the food supplies with a tarpaulin to ensure the consignment remained intact and reached its intended recipients in good condition,” the OPM said.
According to the OPM, the distribution of the rice forms part of Namibia’s wider efforts to combat the severe food insecurity caused by what experts have described as the worst drought in a century.
The government began dispatching the Chinese donation to the Oshikoto region on 19 February, aiming to assist 27 000 registered households under the drought relief programme.
The rice consignment arrived at the port of Walvis Bay earlier in the month before being transported to affected communities.
In an earlier statement, the OPM highlighted the importance of swift and efficient distribution, noting that members of the Namibian Defence Force had been mobilised to load consignments onto trucks to ensure timely delivery.
“This collaboration aims to prevent delays and guarantee that the relief reaches the intended beneficiaries without hindrance,” the OPM said at the time.
China’s contribution follows an appeal by President Nangolo Mbumba, who called on international and local partners to support Namibia in mitigating the devastating effects of the prolonged drought.
During a previous bilateral meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged approximately N$50 million in drought assistance to Namibia.
The aid package includes not only the rice donation but also plans to drill 14 industrial boreholes across the country to address water shortages.
Despite good rains since the start of the year, the impact of the drought extends beyond food shortages.
A recent United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) report highlighted that women and girls in northern Namibia have been disproportionately affected by the crisis.
Despite these hardships, there is hope that agricultural recovery is on the horizon.
A recent economic outlook published by the Bank of Namibia, suggested that La Niña-induced rainfall could bolster crop production this year, offering some relief to people exposed to severe food insecurity.
According to the OPM, the combined efforts of the Namibian government, international partners such as China, and humanitarian organisations like the World Food Programme are critical in addressing both immediate needs and long-term resilience against drought conditions.
