The situation in the area is said to be severe and, according to some reports, as many as 4 000 people are depending on wild fruit to sustain themselves.

Deputy Director of the Emergency Management Unit (EMU), Gabriel Kangowa, said the aid distributed to Khwe was not part of the recently approved National Drought Plan, but food from regional stocks.

Kangowa said the supplies of maize meal, dry fish and cooking oil should carry the Khwe community through until this year's drought food arrives in the regions - hopefully in the next three weeks.

A regional assessment identified 39 788 people in the Caprivi Region as needing food assistance under this year's programme, just more than half the region's population.

Acting Caprivi Governor, Peter Mwala, told The Namibian that people were going hungry in the high-ground areas of Kongola, Sibbinda and Linyanti.

"We can talk of a bad situation for the people.

They are hungry.

But they will just have to be patient," said the National Council representative for the Kabbe constituency.

Meanwhile, the eastern part of the region is still dealing with the aftermath of the floods.

Villagers have started planting seeds in streams where water has subsided.

They last received food aid as part of flood assistance in August.

Medicines to vaccinate animals, which villagers fear may have picked up diseases during the floods, have also been received.

This week EMU intends to get the drought aid tender process off the ground.

About 36 000 tons of food are needed to feed more than 400 000 people said to be severely affected by drought throughout the country.

Preliminary indications are that food aid could reach the affected regions for distribution by the second week of October.

Local News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  Delays in tourist murder case test court's patience
•  Fire Minister: RDP youth
•  Cool, rainy weather in South
•  Community farm 'commandeered', residents face a barbed future
•  Court administration takes fast lane at Swakopmund
•  Devastating fire in Okahandja area
•  Huge donation for hospital
•  Veterans Board announced
•  Roessing man accused of assaulting child
•  Region's dream to come true
•  Merlus gets double certification
•  Train wheels grind to a halt as railway strike takes effect
•  Three go free in gang-rape trial
•  AirNam wraps up probe
•  Minister gags cell firms Mobile price wars 'embarrassing' Govt
•  Children of war veterans up in arms
•  Parastatals hog the spotlight
•   Suspected AirNam drug courier gets bail
•  Cocaine suspects go free when trial fails to start
•  Petition to keep Avis Dam unspoilt
•  Petition to keep Avis Dam unspoilt
•  Katiti sues for N$500 000
•  Speeding car crashes, bursts into flames
•  FMD under close surveillance
•  Minister Nghimtina backtracks on resignation
•  High seas close sections of Henties road
•  TransNamib strike starts
•   Swapo, RDP not sitting under same tree
•  Minister Nghimtina backtracks on resignation
•  High seas close sections of Henties road
•  TransNamib strike starts
•   Swapo, RDP not sitting under under same tree