Turkey extends drought-relief lifeline worth N$350 000

Turkish ambassador to Namibia, Feral ?ekerek Oru?kaptan, and her delegation donated food items worth N$350 000 towards Namibia's drought-relief efforts on Friday.The donation includes 2 000 kilograms of maize meal, 750 litres of cooking oil, 1 000 kilograms of tinned fish and 500 kilograms of soy mince. The donation was made through Turkey’s disaster and emergency Management Authority, AFAD.During the handover, Oru?kaptan said with strong diplomatic and economic ties, Turkey stands in solidarity with Namibia through its drought plight the way Namibia supported it during earthquakes last year. "I want to thank the Namibian people and the Namibian government once again for the solidarity shown towards our country and our people after the devastating earthquakes in 2023. We fondly remember our Namibian friends' solidarity during that difficult time. These acts of goodwill signify the friendly bonds between the two nations and the commitment to assist each other in difficult times," she said.Oru?kaptan said during a meeting with President Nangolo Mbumba regarding the drought emergency assistance plan in June, international development partners were informed that additional funding was needed given the intensity of the drought.“As a short-term remedy, AFAD decided to donate food. It should be noted that AFAD procured the food aid locally, which in turn also contributes economically to Namibian producers and retailers," she added.Mbumba declared the drought a national emergency in May.High costsAccording to deputy prime minister John Mutorwa, Namibia's drought relief programme consists of food assistance to the most vulnerable households, seed support to crop and horticultural farmers, livestock support and water provision to the most vulnerable areas."The cost of the drought programme is, rightly so, immense and high; with the current estimate at N$1.6 billion. The government has, thus far, availed over N$800 million. This leaves a funding gap for which the appeal for assistance to development partners was made," he said.The Turkish delegation revealed that Turkey plans to complete five additional projects in Namibia for the year, most of which relate to agriculture and food security."A drought project in Gobabis is planned as a direct contribution to the relief call of the Namibian government and two projects relating to capacity-building for vegetable gardens are in the pipeline. The friendship between Turkey and Namibia runs very deep and is sincere. In times of need, [standing in] solidarity is what friendly nations feel obliged to do," Oru?kaptan said.

Turkey extends drought-relief lifeline worth N$350 000

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-17

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Turkey extends drought-relief lifeline worth N$350 000

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-17

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