Helicopter to fly in aid to isolated herders in North

CATTLE herders in the flooded southern part of the Oshana Region have been cut off from the rest of the country – and fresh food supplies – for a month.

The office of the Governor of Oshana announced late yesterday afternoon that Government would send the herders food and other basic supplies by helicopter this morning. Chief Regional Officer John Kandombo said farmers had asked for help, saying they could not reach the grazing area in the Uuvudhiya Constituency to take food to their herders.Kandombo requested all farmers who have cattle posts in the area to bring the supplies to the Ondangwa Airport early this morning.An NDF helicopter would fly out the supplies later this morning, he said.”This is a special arrangement by the Government, only for tomorrow, and farmers have to make sure that they make use of this opportunity,” Kandombo said.The Namibian has learnt that many people in other parts of the Oshana and Omusati regions have also been cut off from the outside world by the flood and need relief.Chief Regional Officer John Kandombo said farmers had asked for help, saying they could not reach the grazing area in the Uuvudhiya Constituency to take food to their herders.Kandombo requested all farmers who have cattle posts in the area to bring the supplies to the Ondangwa Airport early this morning.An NDF helicopter would fly out the supplies later this morning, he said.”This is a special arrangement by the Government, only for tomorrow, and farmers have to make sure that they make use of this opportunity,” Kandombo said.The Namibian has learnt that many people in other parts of the Oshana and Omusati regions have also been cut off from the outside world by the flood and need relief.