There is a shortfall of about N$600 million to implement the Namibian government's drought relief programme.

Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says the Disaster Risk Fund under her office only has about N$200 million, while the whole programme needs funding of up to N$800 million.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila paid a courtesy call on the Erongo Governor, who brought the region's political leadership to the meeting. She informed the leaders that Cabinet has approved a countrywide drought relief programme after it was discovered that a number of Namibians did not harvest any crops due to floods and drought.

The Prime Minister urged the leadership to cooperate and identify the most needy people in their constituencies so they could benefit from the programme.

"Our cooperation would also have to ensure that the beneficiaries are identified in time and that we also work together to ensure that the logistical arrangements are in place for us to start as soon as possible because we want to be distributing this drought relief by the first of October, so we are expecting that the regions and the local authorities would be working through their emergency committees for each region. We are going to put our differences aside and focus on saving our people in the best way we can," she said.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila called on the local authorities and Regional Council to supplement whatever is needed, including transport and warehouses, to provide the service to those in remote areas. 172,000 households are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity between March 2023 and June 2024 and will require urgent humanitarian assistance.