The ongoing government drought relief program in the Kunene, Erongo, and Omusati regions was extended on Tuesday to May 2024 by a Cabinet decision.

In a media statement issued on Thursday, the government stated that the drought relief program underway in the Kunene and parts of Erongo and Omusati regions will continue as per the Cabinet decision, which was taken at the fifth Cabinet decision-making meeting that took place in the capital on Tuesday.

The Cabinet also approved N$21 million for this program.

"The decision was made based on the outcome of the 2022 vulnerability assessment and analysis report, which was compiled and submitted by the Office of the Prime Minister," said the statement.

The extension of drought relief to the three regions will run from April 1, 2023, to May 30, 2024.

The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare was tasked with continuing with the provision of its social grants to those three regions.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, on its part, should assist livestock and crop farmers with knowledge of smart agricultural production methods, it added.

The agriculture ministry was further directed by Cabinet to make budgetary provisions for the drilling of more boreholes as well as the supply of water pipelines to the areas in order to address any possible shortage of water supply to the vulnerable communities.