Luxembourg comes to the aid of hungry children

LUXEMBOURG has confirmed a second contribution of 100 000 Euros (N$9,5 million) to the United Nations World Food Programme in support of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare’s assistance to orphans and vulnerable children in Namibia’s six northern regions.

This is the second donation from Luxembourg. However, the WFP said on Friday that the programme remained “chronically underfunded”.In December, Luxembourg donated 250 000 Euros to ensure that orphans and vulnerable children in northern Namibia were able to continue receiving food supplies.At the time funding had dried up and the children were in danger of having their food aid rations curtailed.The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Sirkka Ausiku, whose ministry is responsible for the welfare of orphans and vulnerable children, said the intervention would contribute to Namibia’s realisation of Vision 2030.The food-aid programme was launched by the Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare in April last year.By the end of last year just over 90 000 orphans and vulnerable children had been registered for the programme, which was being implemented at the regional level by Catholic AIDS Action, the Namibian Red Cross Society and the AIDS programme of the Lutheran Church, which work in close coordination with the regional authorities.The food-aid programme was designed to provide much-needed interim relief to these vulnerable children until all those who were eligible were absorbed into the Government’s child welfare grant system.”The fact that it is their second contribution within a short space of time demonstrates their understanding of, and ongoing commitment to help address the dire circumstances that these very vulnerable children face on a daily basis.They need our support,” said John Prout, the World Food Programme Representative in Namibia.The transfer from food assistance to Government grants is expected to take place during the course of this year.Grant application forms will be distributed to all caregivers of orphans and vulnerable children registered with the food programme next month to help facilitate the transition from food assistance to grants.Prout said despite the generous contribution, the programme remained chronically underfunded.”It is very important that we get sufficient funds to continue food distributions until these children have had a chance to transfer over to the Government’s grant system or other types of support,” he said.However, the WFP said on Friday that the programme remained “chronically underfunded”.In December, Luxembourg donated 250 000 Euros to ensure that orphans and vulnerable children in northern Namibia were able to continue receiving food supplies.At the time funding had dried up and the children were in danger of having their food aid rations curtailed.The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Sirkka Ausiku, whose ministry is responsible for the welfare of orphans and vulnerable children, said the intervention would contribute to Namibia’s realisation of Vision 2030.The food-aid programme was launched by the Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare in April last year.By the end of last year just over 90 000 orphans and vulnerable children had been registered for the programme, which was being implemented at the regional level by Catholic AIDS Action, the Namibian Red Cross Society and the AIDS programme of the Lutheran Church, which work in close coordination with the regional authorities.The food-aid programme was designed to provide much-needed interim relief to these vulnerable children until all those who were eligible were absorbed into the Government’s child welfare grant system.”The fact that it is their second contribution within a short space of time demonstrates their understanding of, and ongoing commitment to help address the dire circumstances that these very vulnerable children face on a daily basis.They need our support,” said John Prout, the World Food Programme Representative in Namibia.The transfer from food assistance to Government grants is expected to take place during the course of this year.Grant application forms will be distributed to all caregivers of orphans and vulnerable children registered with the food programme next month to help facilitate the transition from food assistance to grants.Prout said despite the generous contribution, the programme remained chronically underfunded.”It is very important that we get sufficient funds to continue food distributions until these children have had a chance to transfer over to the Government’s grant system or other types of support,” he said.