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.
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