Families residing in the peri-urban areas of Otavi in the Otjozondjupa Region were pleased to receive food parcels from the Drought Relief Programme, expressing gratitude for not having to go to bed hungry any longer.

The 2022 Global Hunger Index suggests Namibia suffers from serious hunger levels, with the country ranked 78th out of 116 countries.

The government has made a concerted effort to assist the needy, including through its Drought Relief Programme, which delivered 20 kilogrammes of maize meal, cooking oil, and soya mince to residents of Otavi.

The food may not last these families more than a few months, but the 789 beneficiaries of Otavi Constituency are grateful.

Most of the households that benefited are headed by unemployed individuals or farmworkers, who say the food parcels mean security from hunger for the immediate future.

The food parcels delivered are backdated to April and May, while they still await June's parcels.

The Drought Relief Programme was introduced in 2019 and initially covered only Kunene, parts of Erongo, and Omusati regions until it came to an end in September last year.

It was reintroduced a month later, this time covering all regions.

The programme is set to continue until June next year.