Hundreds of Angolan nationals, especially young men and women, are flocking into Namibia in search of humanitarian help, following the severe drought being experienced in the southern part of that country. Angolans Nampa spoke to at Oshikango on Saturday, claimed they are leaving their country because there is a crisis of unemployment among the youth, severe poverty and starvation due to the absence of rain resulting in an ongoing drought situation. The group of young men said the situation forces them to sleep in the open under trees and that they hardly get offered food by anyone. “We will remain here waiting for those who can offer us any kind of employment because we will die of hunger if we go back home,” they said. Also speaking to Nampa at Oshikango on Saturday, former mayor of the border town of Helao Nafidi, Eliaser Nghipangelwa, expressed concern about the hardship the young people are enduring at the town. “I have lived in Oshikango since 1997, but I haven’t seen Angolans flocking into the country, using unauthorised entry border points, in big numbers like now,” Nghipangelwa noted. At times a whole family of a mother with her two children and husband are found under a tree near Oshikango open market and they easily reveal that they are here looking for work. “We need to treat them as Angolan refugees of war conflict, like the ones we had at Osire in the Otjozondjupa Region in the past years,” said Nghipangelwa. Approached for comment, Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Frans Kapofi expressed knowledge of the situation and promised that the two governments will assess the situation on the ground in order to pronounce themselves on the matter. “We won’t shy away from the cry of our brothers and sisters. Therefore, the government will definitely provide help if need be,” said the minister. A communique from the office of Ohangwena Region Governor, Walde Ndevashiya to Nampa, indicates that Angolan Ambassador to Namibia, Jovelina Imperial Costa, is due to visit the common borders between Namibia and Angola from Monday to Friday. Costa is scheduled to meet with stakeholders at some points of entry along the borders in the Ohangwena and Omusati regions, as well as meeting Angolan nationals camping near the Omusati Region’s Etunda Irrigation Scheme site on Tuesday.