Niël Terblanché
The government has commenced the distribution of a substantial rice donation from China in a determined effort to alleviate the severe hunger crisis precipitated by the current unprecedented drought.
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) began dispatching the consignment to the Oshikoto region on Monday, aiming to reach 27 000 registered households under the drought relief programme.
The Chinese government donated 27 200 bags of rice which arrived by sea at the port of Walvis Bay earlier this week.
The OPM said in a social media post that the intervention responds to the acute food insecurity affecting the Oshikoto region, where communities have been grappling with the worst drought in a century.
According to the OPM, members of the Namibian Defence Force have been mobilised to assist with loading the consignments onto trucks to ensure the prompt and efficient delivery of the donated food aid.
“This collaboration aims to prevent delays and guarantee that the relief reaches the intended beneficiaries without hindrance,” the OPM said.
The response from China follows an appeal by President Nangolo Mbumba, who called upon international and local development partners to support Namibia in mitigating the devastating effects of the ongoing drought.
The Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a previous bilateral meeting, announced approximately N$50 million in drought assistance to Namibia.
The current package includes the current rice donation and plans to drill 14 industrial boreholes across Namibia to address water shortages.
A recent report by the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) reiterated the severe impact of the current drought, particularly on women and girls in northern Namibia.
The drought’s impact extends beyond immediate food shortages.
The Bank of Namibia in a recent economic outlook projected that the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors are expected to improve this year when compared to 2024.
The outlook indicated that the so-called La Niña-induced rainfall is expected to support recovery in crop production activities.
According to the OPM, the combined efforts of the Namibian government, international partners like China, and organisations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) are crucial in providing immediate relief and building long-term resilience against extended drought situations.
