Africa-Press – Namibia. OSHANA governor Elia Irimari is urging residents of his region to sell some of their livestock to avoid losses, because of a lack of pasture.
Speaking to the The Namibian yesterday, Irimari said there will be a bleak harvest in his region this year.
“This week we are going to Uuvudhiya to assess the water situation, because farmers from Oshikoto and Omusati have also started moving their livestock in that area.
“I want to advise our farmers to start selling some of their livestock to avoid losing their animals due to drought,” he said.
The governor further said the regional council will approach the Office of the Prime Minister for food relief for the inhabitants of the region. However, Oshikoto governor Penda ya Ndakolo said the situation in his region has improved, as the region received some rains recently.
“Yesterday (Saturday), I visited some of the constituencies in the region, such as Okankolo, Guinas and Nehale lya Mpingana, and the crops are promising,” he said.
He urged Oshikoto inhabitants to continue working in their fields, adding that only communities who have not received enough rainfall are going to receive drought relief food. Since the start of the current rainy season, northern parts of the country, especially in Omusati, Kunene and Oshana regions, have received erratic rainfall.
Some crops have started wilting and people and animals are now facing a bleak future, as there is no grass on the ground
where as some people were negatively affected by flooding in the Ohangwena and Oshana region earlier this year.
This followed heavy rains in Angola.
Last week, deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said to-date, 362 households in Ohangwena region and 86 households in Oshana region were affected by floods.
According to her, 93 households in Ohangwena region and 52 households in Oshana region are still housed in temporary relocation sites.
“The office facilitated the relief support, which included temporary shelter, food assistance and medical care.
All affected schools have since re-opened she said.
According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, the drought relief programme will continue in Kunene region, parts of Erongo and Omusati regions up to the end of this month.
“In addition, this programme will also cater for a relief programme of N$72 million to support households affected by the floods in Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati regions. This support will be extended up to May 2024,” she said.
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