THE United Arab Emirates embassy on Tuesday donated goods worth N$639 975 to the Namibian government, through the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.
Among the donated items are sanitary pads and school shoes which will be shared among pupils of the Moses Garoëb and Kwakwas primary schools, as well as those of the Khomastura and Westmond high schools.
The donation also includes food hampers for the drought relief programme, as well as wheelchairs and cleaning products for medical care facilities.
Handing over the items, UAE ambassador to Namibia Mahash Saheed Al Hameli said the donation was not to please the country for any interest.
“We give it because we feel that is part of our duty, and I wish that we cover the whole African continent,” he noted.
The ambassador said they plan adding to the 90 pairs of shoes donated to make it 500 pairs which will be shared by the four schools.
Deputy prime minister and minister of international relations Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who received the donation, said it had come at a time when Namibia really needs assistance.
“It is because of your government’s generosity that we are able to improve the quality of lives of individuals living with disabilities by giving them the donated wheelchairs,” she stated.
She added that the sanitary pads will help the Namibian girl child have uninterrupted education sessions, while the food hampers will go a long way in assisting the Namibian people, especially the target groups.
Nandi-Ndaitwah appealed for the donations to be used for their intended purposes, and by deserving and targeted Namibians.
“It is only when we are sincere, honest and responsible that we will be able to assist our needy people,” she said. Meanwhile, he United States government donated US$7,6 million (about N$110 million) in food assistance to Namibians affected by drought.
Making the announcement at State House on Tuesday, US ambassador to Namibia Lisa Johnson said she and her staff had travelled throughout the country a fortnight ago to assess the drought situation.
“I’ve heard from people specifically that they don’t have enough food. I’ve been to Kunene, Zambezi, Kavango and Omusati, and people are very concerned about the upcoming season,” she stated.
The donation of more than 5 000 metric tonnes of food will provide Namibians in those regions hardest-hit by the drought with up to six months’ supply of food.
“We are going to source that food locally and regionally, where we can, because that will reduce transportation costs. So, our goal is to get the food as quickly as we can to the people who need it most,” she noted.
The donation will feed an estimated 110 000 Namibians, according to a media statement from the US embassy.
Responding to the gesture, president Hage Geingob thanked the ambassador and the US government for listening to the pleas of the Namibian government.
In May this year, the US government provided US$100 000 for water provision and the uplifting of hygiene standards in the Kunene region, through the Namibia Red Cross Society.
The drought assistance funding comes through the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) programme.
The US$7,6 million of drought assistance is in addition to the annual US$81,4 million Pepfar funding to Namibia, which is for the financial year starting 1 October 2019.
– Nampa
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