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Government declares three regions drought disaster areas |
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Written by Staff Reporters
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The government said this week an inspection done in the
Erongo, Kunene and Caprivi regions has shown that some constituencies are
severely affected by drought and water shortages.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said this week
in a statement that most households depend on livestock and crop production for
food security and income.
“Due to the drought, elephants, quelea birds and floods only
a few crop production farmers have harvested something for own consumption this
year. These people, especially in the areas of Western Caprivi, partly Katima
Mulilo Rural and the Kabbe constituencies have nothing else to fall back on,”
the statement said.In areas such as Otjimbingwe and Daures constituencies,
people have been without water for period of two to six months, the statement
said.The statement said extended drought conditions and ensuing
water shortages in these areas will cause severe stress on both people and
livestock, especially in the areas of Otjimbingwe, Daures and parts of Kunene
and Western Caprivi. Livestock are already in a fair to poor condition for this
time of the year, the statement said.“Most of the affected areas require food assistance and
emergency grazing and water supply where possible,” said the statement.In the Caprivi and Erongo regions a total of 13 002
households or 78 012 people are affected. Cabinet has directed the Emergency
Management Committee to use the N$20 million which was already provided from
the Contingency Fund to cater for the drought in the affected areas.Cabinet also mandated the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and
Forestry to activate the Katima/Kongolo water pipeline to provide water to the
affected areas. Cabinet approved that the National Emergency Management
Committee implements and coordinates the emergency programme for six months and
also directed regional councils to register all identified affected populations
in their respective regions/constituencies.
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