As part of the Federal Government’s effort to provide aid to families affected by drought in Namibia, 300 tonnes of rice, 700 tonnes of maize and 3 tonnes of fish fillets were donated as part of a food consignment to help ease the effect of the disaster caused by erratic rains in the country.
According to the Nigerian High Commissioner to Namibia, Dr. Biodun Olorunfeni, the disaster did not spare human beings as a number of Namibians in rural areas were classified as food insecure while the country recorded a number of deaths occasioned by the unavailability of food.
Olorunfeni commended President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia for what he described as the government’s swift and timely response to the disaster, while pledging the support of the Nigerian government to help surmount the challenges posed by the drought.
“The declaration of a state of national emergency in Namibia due to the drought helped in ameliorating the effects of the drought as some international organizations and friendly countries came to render assistance in various forms,” he added.
The drought which hit the country in 2013, caused extensive damage to the ecology and the death of livestock due to the non-availability of grazing and lack of water; though Namibia is yet to make an official appeal for drought assistance to the international donor community, it is feared that the drought could reach devastating heights as the current rainy season is expected to end in April.
