Namibia: Hunger looms

September 23, 2010

Windhoek (Namibia) — A total of 42100 people won’t be able to meet their minimum food requirements in 2011, says Government.

Of this number, 33493 very poor people are found in the Caprivi lowland maize and cattle livelihood zone, according to Cabinet’s latest briefing. Some 8607 poor people with food deficit are in the southern freehold small-stock zone in large parts of the Hardap and Karas regions. Cabinet states that a total of 106297 people in the Caprivi lowland maize and cattle zone, as well as the southern communal small-stock zone, the southern freehold small-stock zone and the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa cattle ranching zone will face a livelihood protection (non-essential food items) deficit and will be unable to meet their livelihood protection thresholds to live in a sustainable way. The livelihood protection basket comprises essential items such as education, health, agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertiliser and ploughing services. Government would need 2440 metric tons of maize meal to address the survival threshold, while a total of 7877 metric tons of maize meal will be required to ensure a livelihood protection threshold. Authorities estimate that some N$59 million will be required to implement the proposed short-term interventions. Of this amount, N$14 million is needed to address the survival threshold, while N$45 million is needed to ensure the livelihood protection threshold. Extreme weather conditions that have increased in frequency and severity, have impacted negatively on the livelihoods of communities, rendering them vulnerable to food insecurity, says Cabinet. “The effects of extreme weather conditions are mostly felt by the very poor in the -society due to their limited capacity to cope with such events. The situation is exacerbated by socio-economic and environmental issues such as poverty, disease and increases in commodity prices,” it says. A National Assessment and Analysis conducted in 2009 states in its key findings that the main hazards and shocks for the period were the flood water conditions, dry spells, human-wildlife conflict, which caused destruction of crops and livestock, livestock diseases (foot-and-mouth disease, Rift Valley Fever and small-stock internal parasites), as well as increases in staple food prices. These are some of the contributing factors to the projected food shortage. “There is now considerable evidence and general agreement that adverse weather conditions, combined with poverty-induced vulnerability are the main causes of vulnerability in Namibia.” In light of the above, Cabinet has approved that free food handouts targeting labour poor households (those who cannot work) in the Caprivi, Kavango, Hardap and Karas regions be implemented. Food and cash for work targeting labour rich (those who can work) households among the very poor and poor group household categories in the Caprivi, parts of Kavango, Hardap, Karas, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions will be implemented by the Office of the Prime Minister through Emergency Management Units and regional councils. Cabinet has also called for more effective planning and coordination of Government services in rural areas. For the medium-term, Cabinet has directed that poverty reduction through income-generating projects among enterprising households be encouraged as well as the creation of productive assets through small-stock provision among asset poor households in southern Namibia. It also calls for the establishment of a more competitive livestock pricing system. More effective coordination between flood affected communities, traditional authorities and regional/central government as well as the permanent relocation of populations in high risk flood affected areas. Cabinet has directed the Office of the Prime Minister to clearly specify the targeted beneficiaries referred to under the short-term measures and to rather refer to individuals instead of “households” where appropriate and to assess the quality of the maize meal stock to be procured from the Kavango region for the food relief programme, whilst also directing it to extend the food relief programme to informal settlements in urban areas.