The amount earmarked for drought this year is almost double last year's figure of N$140 million.

Although the Cabinet secretariat was not in a position to divulge the details of what was endorsed at its session on Tuesday, Under Secretary Gerson Tjihenuna confirmed to The Namibian yesterday that action on the national drought assessment had been taken.

He said the minutes of the proceedings first have to be certified before they can be revealed.

Government sources indicated that this year about N$275 million would be pumped into drought relief efforts.

Of this, about N$170 million is expected to be budgeted for food aid alone.

Other assistance is likely to be in the form of transporting livestock to suitable grazing areas, and to boost the Cash for Work and Food for Work programmes.

However, at least N$230 million will still have to be sourced as only N$30 million dollars will come from Government's annual contingency fund of N$140 million.

Government's Emergency Management Unit (EMU) estimated last month that about 400 000 people would require food aid in the coming months - 55 000 more than last year.

The unit's countrywide assessments showed that Caprivi is one of the hardest hit regions suffering from a combination of flood and drought.

The southern regions of Karas and Hardap are also facing severe hardships as there is virtually no grazing for livestock.

The northern regions of Oshikoto, Omusati, Ohangwena and Kavango, are not expected to be able to harvest enough maize and mahangu (millet) to feed their population.

Many of those affected by the drought last received aid in May as part of the 2002-2003 drought relief.

The EMU's Deputy Director, Gabriel Kangowa, says it is difficult to tell when Government will start distributing drought aid, as the unit will have to await Cabinet instructions before inviting tenders to supply the aid.

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