The persistent drought in the Kunene Region is affecting water provision for residents.

Kunene Regional Council Acting Director for Planning and Development, Charles Uarije, made these remarks during the Regional and Local Government Administrative Leadership Session at Opuwo.

Uarije says even though the region has the Kunene River, it depends on boreholes for water provision.

With a population of more than 90,000 inhabitants, about 60% of whom live in rural settings, they depend on livestock for their livelihood.

The provision of potable water and electricity remains a challenge in Maltahohe and Aranos.

Residents in those areas live in corrugated shelters and share one public- tap.

The residents claimed that one water tap is no more enough as the population has increased in those areas and they have to queue for hours to fetch water.

Some residents including the elderly have to walk a long distance to fetch water from the nearest water point.