US provides N$90m in drought Support 

 By Confidente Reporter
US Ambassador Randy Berry announced that the United
States will provide an additional US$5 million (approximately
N$90 million) in humanitarian assistance to support drought-
affected populations in Namibia.
One hundred thousand US dollars (approximately N$1.8
million) of this amount has been provided to the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to assess districts most
impacted by drought and to identify communities needing
immediate nutrition assistance. 
The El Niño-induced drought has contributed to
deteriorating food security conditions across Namibia,
negatively impacting crop and livestock production, food
price shocks, and unemployment.  El Niño is a climate
phenomenon when the Pacific Ocean warms above average,
causing irregular global weather patterns. 
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)
Report for Namibia projects that an estimated 1.4 million
people – nearly 50 per cent of the country’s population – will
likely face high levels of acute food insecurity and require
urgent food assistance at the expected peak of the lean
season from September 2024 through March 2025.  
Coordinated in conjunction with the Office of the Prime
Minister, the leading agency in mitigating Namibia’s drought
crisis, the funding will support UNICEF to enhance nutrition
services such as early detection and the treatment of
wasting, one of the most severe forms of malnutrition, for
nearly 24,500 women and children. 

Additionally, the funding will support the UN World Food
Program (WFP) to provide food and nutrition assistance to
more than 56,600 vulnerable individuals – primarily children
and pregnant and breastfeeding women from indigenous
communities – in Ohangwena, Omaheke, Oshikoto, and
Otjozondjupa regions who are most impacted by food and
nutrition insecurity.
In May, USAID supported the Ministry of Health and Social
Services and UNICEF to procure and distribute 14 metric tons
of Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food to help at least 1,000
children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The
donation forms part of an agreement between USAID and
Chevron.  As part of the agreement, Chevron has also
committed US$300,000 (approximately N$5.5 million) for
potable water rehabilitation and nutrition garden projects
and US$55,000 (approximately N$1 million) for emergency
drought relief.
As climate change increasingly exacerbates droughts,
flooding, and inconsistent rainfall, contributing to food
insecurity, the United States continues to support
communities in Namibia and across Southern Africa by
providing life-saving assistance to meet basic needs and
build resilience.