Ongwediva
Omusati Regional Council will review its drought relief policy so as to cater for the about 200 000 people affected by drought.
Governor of Omusati Region Erginus Endjala says currently only about 16 000 inhabitants are receiving drought relief food in the region, leaving about 4 000 without any means of sustenance.
He said they are currently re-registering the region’s inhabitants to ensure the relief food reaches the intended community, noting that: “The drought policy is under review to cater for every resident that is affected by the drought.”
The new registration of inhabitants of drought relief food will do away with giving relief to people who have the means to sustain themselves.
While the distribution of relief food is vital, the distribution of maize meal without relish is not said to be contentious. Some recipients have complained that they are not given any relish alongside their maize meal bags.
Two months ago the government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources availed fish worth N$21 million for distribution to thousands of poverty-stricken and drought-affected communities.
Government has pledged N$90 million in the current financial year 2015/16 to feed the one-quarter of the population that depends entirely on drought relief food provided by government.
According to Governor Endjala, protracted periods of law rainfall recorded in the Omusati Region in the few past years have seen the region slide into severe poverty, land degradation and water shortages, amongst other challenges people in the region have to contend with.
At a disaster conference held here recently, Endjala said there is insufficient grazing and that many of the boreholes have already dried up.
He said although Omusati has about one million hectares of grazing land that can accommodate an estimated 300 000 livestock, 38 000 head of cattle died as a result of the ongoing drought.
The water available in some areas is too salty and, hence is not fit for human or animal consumption, he pointed out.