Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba addressed the international community asking for the country’s help in the fight against drought, the Namibian Sun newspaper reported on May 27.
At the same time, the Namibian government previously approved a budget of more than 800 million Namibian dollars (3.875 million rubles) for drought relief.
Speaking at the 14th Omagongo Festival celebrating the culture of the Aavambo people in Onambango village at the weekend, Mbumba said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had announced the current severe drought situation, hence the call for support.
“I want to assure you that we are serious, that the entire SADC region has already said that we are in a difficult drought situation and we have declared an emergency and we are calling on all our friends around the world, throughout Africa, throughout the SADC. : we need some food, we need help, we need some water”Mbumba said.
“To those who can help us with money so we can drill more wells, we will be very grateful.”he added.
Mbumba’s comments come just weeks after Cabinet announced the Prime Minister’s Office’s $825 million drought relief program for the 2024-2025 financial year.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a budget that includes N$600 million for food aid, N$100 million for livestock and water support programs, and N$25 million to provide seeds and fertilizers to farmers.
The action follows an urgent appeal from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Prime Minister’s Office to declare the current drought a national emergency.
In recent years, many parts of Namibia have experienced poor rainfall, affecting farmers who have been unable to grow adequate crops in their fields.
Livestock production has also been affected due to shortages of pasture and water. Many farmers have lost a significant number of their livestock due to the drought of recent years.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.