
The Office of the Prime Minister needs N$600 million to sustain the drought relief programme until June this year.
So far the office has received donations amounting to more than N$115 million, which include cash and in-kind donations.
The donations were received from local, international, and development partners.
The most drought-affected regions are Kunene, Erongo, and Omusati, where the drought has been experienced for six consecutive years.
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Works & Transport, John Mutorwa, said, "On the budget that is provided, we still have that shortfall of N$600 million, that amount so that we can sustain that programme whether it's raining because you don't get the food immediately after you have planted.
The Director for Disaster Risk Management in the OPM, Hellen Likando, said, "Kunene Region is the only region that received proper rainfall; however, that did not change the situation because of the past six years of prolonged drought, according to the assessment that was conducted last year. In terms of the assessment, the Zambezi Region was the most affected; however, we take cognisant that Kunene, part of Omusati and Erongo, suffered for long.
President Nangolo Mbumba declared a state of emergency on drought last year, and the cabinet approved the implementation of a nationwide drought relief programme.
The programme includes food assistance to the most vulnerable households, seed support to crop and horticultural farmers, livestock support, and water provision to areas in critical need.
Mutorwa added, "That is why we are praying that with this rain maybe some parts of the country might receive sufficient rain. We encourage those that have received rain to work and produce the food that we need. But the whole of Namibia is affected by the drought that was declared last year."
Fishcor was the latest local company that donated 500 boxes of fish towards the government's drought relief efforts.
The Office of the Prime Minister is yet to determine where the fish will be distributed.
A Livelihood Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis study, conducted by the Office of the Prime Minister, revealed that about 1.26 million Namibian people face food insecurity.