Namibia is facing a growing food security crisis due to the ongoing drought, exacerbated by climate change and El Niño.
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the drought is expected to affect an estimated 1.26 million people between October 2024 and March 2025.
This represents approximately 41.5% of the country’s total population, with rural and vulnerable communities expected to bear the brunt of the crisis.
Speaking at the National Platform on the Implementation of the Nationwide Drought Relief Programme, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, outlined the severity of the situation, urging stakeholders in disaster risk management to intensify their efforts.
She emphasised the government’s commitment to addressing the immediate needs of those affected while simultaneously building long-term resilience to future emergencies.
“The food insecurity situation is expected to heighten in the period from October 2024 to March 2025, with 1.26 million people expected to be affected, before it moderates to 776,000 people after March 2025 up until June 2025,” said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
Namibia continues to endure one of the most severe droughts in recent history, compounded by the effects of global climate change.
According to the Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis report, approximately 1.15 million people were already experiencing severe levels of acute food insecurity during the period from July to September 2024.
Rising food prices, driven by the global economic downturn and the El Niño weather pattern, have further exacerbated the crisis.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila explained that the government’s welfare programmes, while effective in reducing poverty and vulnerability, are facing challenges in fully addressing the scale of the problem.
“The government welfare programme provides a useful shield against poverty and vulnerability to emergencies, reducing the incidence and the severity of insecurities to hunger and other disaster-induced situations,” she noted.
However, the Prime Minister stressed that the drought relief programme must go beyond immediate food assistance.
“Drought relief interventions must not only be seen in the context of the provision of immediate relief to drought-affected communities but it must be located in the broad programmes aimed to build resilience to emergencies and ensure sustainable livelihoods of our communities,” she added.
The National Platform meeting served as a critical gathering of stakeholders, including government officials, regional governors and representatives from the agricultural sector.
The platform is part of the government’s efforts to ensure a unified response to the crisis and to optimise the impact of drought relief interventions across the country.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila called for greater cooperation among stakeholders, emphasising the need for efficient and timely execution of emergency programmes.
The Prime Minister highlighted the different levels of vulnerability among the population.
She noted that while many Namibians can afford to supplement their diets with store-bought food, a significant portion of the population remains highly vulnerable to food insecurity, with no access to alternative coping mechanisms.
“The impact of food insecurity is not the same amongst all citizens. For some citizens, there is no other coping mechanism, such as the ability to buy food from shops. These are the vulnerable and should be seen as a priority for emergency relief as without it they can face malnutrition and death from hunger,” she said.
This comes as Namibia’s drought relief programme is supported by a N$1.3 billion budget, which covers a range of interventions, including food provision, livestock support and water supply initiatives.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain in the timely execution of certain programmes, particularly in rural areas where uptake has been low.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the government is working to address issues such as delayed payments in the livestock support programme and logistical challenges in delivering aid to remote communities.
Meanwhile, donors have also stepped in to support Namibia’s drought relief efforts with donations worth N$12 million having already been received, with additional pledges amounting to N$229.7 million.
The Prime Minister urged communities to take advantage of available resources, including seeds, farming implements and tractor services, to prepare for the next farming season.
“The Government has invested in seeds and farming implements such as tractor services to assist farmers to improve their farming practices. These services are available at Agricultural Development Centres countrywide,” she said, encouraging farmers to act early to maximise the benefits of the upcoming rainy season.
