Osire refugees say they survive on expired food

Some families at the Osire refugee settlement in the Otjozondjupa Region say they are being forced to choose between eating maize meal that has reached its expiry date and going hungry.

Namibian Sun recently visited the settlement, where residents raised concerns about food shortages, as well as the quality and timing of food distributions.

A source from the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees said the government recently supplied 700 bags of 50kg maize meal – about 35 tonnes – to the settlement. The maize meal was sourced from the Divundu Correctional Facility.

However, Burundian refugee Pierre Niyonkuru told Namibian Sun that the maize meal was allegedly distributed too close to its expiry date, with the food expiring on 6 September.

“Everyone has got expired food in their house,” Niyonkuru said.

He alleged that households received quantities they could not reasonably consume before the expiry date, leaving families with little choice but to eat the food or go without.

“We don’t have a choice. Everyone has to eat it,” he said.

The allegations form part of broader concerns raised by the Osire refugee community in a memorandum submitted to the Legal Assistance Centre this month.

The memorandum alleges that food distributions have become irregular and that supplies are sometimes delivered close to their expiry dates.

The community further claims that food shortages have worsened since changes to the humanitarian assistance system and the government assuming greater responsibility for services at the settlement.

It alleges that children are attending school hungry and that food shortages are affecting households across the settlement.

The concerns come as refugees face limited opportunities to earn income and improve their food security through formal employment or sustainable livelihoods.

Severe constraints

Food insecurity has been a longstanding concern at Osire.

In 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that funding cuts and rising food prices were leaving refugees struggling to make food supplies last through the month.

The agency said inflation meant its budget for a year’s worth of food had lasted only eight months, while livelihood support at Osire had also been affected.

A joint UNHCR-WFP assessment published in 2023 found that nine in 10 refugee households were unable to meet their livelihood needs, while half of those surveyed could not meet their basic food needs.

Monthly food rations often lasted between 14 and 21 days, with irregular or delayed distributions linked to funding constraints.

The humanitarian response later shifted towards cash-based assistance. In 2025, UNHCR and the government introduced cash assistance targeting thousands of refugees and asylum-seekers at Osire amid severe funding constraints. UNHCR said the programme had only 40% of the resources required.

UNHCR continues to work with the government on refugee protection and assistance, with Osire remaining the country’s main settlement for refugees and asylum-seekers.

Namibian Sun sent questions to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security a week ago regarding the maize meal distribution, including when the 700 bags were delivered, their expiry dates, why the maize meal was sourced from Divundu Correctional Facility and what measures are in place to ensure refugees receive safe and adequate food.

The ministry had not responded by the time of publication.