Namibian government declared a national state of emergency, on May 6, over drought in the country.
Rabat – “The State of Emergency exists on account of the natural disaster of drought in all regions of the Republic of Namibia,” read the Namibian presidential declaration.
“Offices, Ministries and Agencies and all other stakeholders will be mobilized to ensure that the necessary assistance is rolled out to affected communities,” said President Hage Geingob.
Prior to the announcement, the Namibian government announced its intentions to provide subsidy programs for farmers.
Sophia Kasheeta, Namibian deputy executive director in the Department of Agricultural Development, stated that “the ministry will give marketing incentives to farmers who want to sell their livestock to encourage them to reduce the numbers.”
Kasheeta added that “every severely effected livestock farmer will be eligible for 10 bags of 50 kilograms’ lick supplement per month to be able to sustain their stock.”
Namibian Minister of Information, Stanley Simataa, stated that this is “the worst drought” that Namibia has experienced.
“It will be coming. It is in the process. You will be alerted when the time comes for the authorities to make such a declaration (i.e. state of emergency),” Simataa said days before the declaration was released.
