Extra relief for the poor

GOVERNMENT has set aside more than N$228 million to feed more half a million vulnerable Namibians for six months starting from August.

Prime Minister Nahas Angula told a media briefing in Windhoek yesterday that Cabinet has decided on a “comprehensive emergency food aid scheme” for 523 633 Namibians living in all 13 regions. The elderly, people living with disabilities, children, infants, women-headed households and pregnant and lactating mothers will be targeted for assistance, he said.This is in addition to N$30 million set aside to immediately buy food items for displaced Namibians living in the Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati and Ohangwena regions as well as the Zambezi flood plains in eastern Caprivi.”This intervention will start within two weeks and will bring much needed relief to the affected households,” Angula said of the N$30 million.He said the decision was taken as Namibians battle to keep their heads above water with the rising food and oil prices worldwide.Last month Government announced that it had scrapped the 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on selected foodstuffs like beans, cooking oil, fat, bread and cake flour and the amendment to the VAT Act of 2000 was fast-tracked through Parliament before it was signed by President Hifikepunye Pohamba and then gazetted.It comes into effect on August 1.Angula said Government continued to monitor the impact of the natural and external shocks affecting food supply capacity.”It is clear that without Government intervention to moderate the impact of drought, floods and escalating prices of oil and food items, our citizens will increasingly find it difficult to make ends meet,” he said.The N$30 million for the northern regions came after Pohamba declared an emergency in those areas earlier this year following heavy rains in Angola causing floods in the North.The latest announcements mean that Government will spend over N$1 billion during this financial year on social measures.Already Government has budgeted N$851 million for around 141 500 elderly people at N$450 per month each for pension grants in addition to N$120 million set aside for up to 8 000 war veterans.Maintenance grants for children amount to N$193 million while the food for work programme run by the Ministry of Local Government stands at N$1 million for each of the 13 regions.Angula said they hope that the money will increase the security of food supply and protect the vulnerable groups.The elderly, people living with disabilities, children, infants, women-headed households and pregnant and lactating mothers will be targeted for assistance, he said.This is in addition to N$30 million set aside to immediately buy food items for displaced Namibians living in the Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati and Ohangwena regions as well as the Zambezi flood plains in eastern Caprivi.”This intervention will start within two weeks and will bring much needed relief to the affected households,” Angula said of the N$30 million.He said the decision was taken as Namibians battle to keep their heads above water with the rising food and oil prices worldwide.Last month Government announced that it had scrapped the 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on selected foodstuffs like beans, cooking oil, fat, bread and cake flour and the amendment to the VAT Act of 2000 was fast-tracked through Parliament before it was signed by President Hifikepunye Pohamba and then gazetted.It comes into effect on August 1. Angula said Government continued to monitor the impact of the natural and external shocks affecting food supply capacity.”It is clear that without Government intervention to moderate the impact of drought, floods and escalating prices of oil and food items, our citizens will increasingly find it difficult to make ends meet,” he said.The N$30 million for the northern regions came after Pohamba declared an emergency in those areas earlier this year following heavy rains in Angola causing floods in the North.The latest announcements mean that Government will spend over N$1 billion during this financial year on social measures.Already Government has budgeted N$851 million for around 141 500 elderly people at N$450 per month each for pension grants in addition to N$120 million set aside for up to 8 000 war veterans.Maintenance grants for children amount to N$193 million while the food for work programme run by the Ministry of Local Government stands at N$1 million for each of the 13 regions.Angula said they hope that the money will increase the security of food supply and protect the vulnerable groups.