Govt signs N$20 million for drought relief

CABINET has made available N$20 million to the Emergency Relief Fund for drought relief efforts in parts of the country that had very little rainfall this year.

Because of poor to average rainfall in most parts of Namibia during this year’s rainy season, grazing and water are scarce, especially in the Kunene Region. As a result, some farmers from the Kunene Region have moved into the Omusati Region to find grazing for their animals.”This influx of animals into the Omusati Region has affected the existing water resources and if not well managed, will also negatively affect the grazing in the long term,” according to Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who announced the Cabinet decision on Wednesday.”The critical issue is grazing.The current situation is that where there is grazing, there is no water and where there is water, there is no grazing.Against that background, Cabinet approved the drilling and equipping of a borehole at Otjovatua and the repair of the borehole at Otjinamatho,” the Minister said.Cabinet also approved the upgrading of two boreholes at Ombombo, which had been designed and equipped to cater only for wildlife, so that they can provide water for livestock too.More boreholes will be drilled in the Kunene Region at Ombaikiha and Arizona, where there is still some grazing left.For the Omusati Region, Cabinet approved the drilling of boreholes at Onaizo and Otjitjekwa.A dam will be built at the borehole at Okabombona and the borehole at Oromatupa will be better equipped.Cabinet also ordered repairs to the boreholes at Otjenova and Ohanyuna.As a result, some farmers from the Kunene Region have moved into the Omusati Region to find grazing for their animals.”This influx of animals into the Omusati Region has affected the existing water resources and if not well managed, will also negatively affect the grazing in the long term,” according to Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who announced the Cabinet decision on Wednesday.”The critical issue is grazing.The current situation is that where there is grazing, there is no water and where there is water, there is no grazing.Against that background, Cabinet approved the drilling and equipping of a borehole at Otjovatua and the repair of the borehole at Otjinamatho,” the Minister said.Cabinet also approved the upgrading of two boreholes at Ombombo, which had been designed and equipped to cater only for wildlife, so that they can provide water for livestock too.More boreholes will be drilled in the Kunene Region at Ombaikiha and Arizona, where there is still some grazing left.For the Omusati Region, Cabinet approved the drilling of boreholes at Onaizo and Otjitjekwa.A dam will be built at the borehole at Okabombona and the borehole at Oromatupa will be better equipped.Cabinet also ordered repairs to the boreholes at Otjenova and Ohanyuna.