Desperate Swakop residents queue for food
22 September 2020 | Local News
ERWIN LEUSCHNER
SWAKOPMUND
More than 1 000 Swakopmund residents, mostly mothers with young children and pensioners, assembled at the local fire station on Friday morning, hoping for government food aid. Many said they had been informed via SMS to pick up maize meal, canned fish and potatoes at 10:00.
The food distribution is part of government's support to the poor and needy, and those who lost who have lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some residents said they had queued since 06:00. “I didn't get a text message, but friends told me about it and that's why I'm here,” one mother said.
Long lines
The residents lined up in long lines around the fire station, ignoring social distancing protocols. Erongo police commander, Commissioner Andreas Nelumbu, lamented this, while urging the municipality to prepare better in future. According to Swakopmund CEO Alfeus Benjamin the council received a large amount of food from the prime minister's office, the Erongo governor's office and the private sector. The original plan was to inform registered beneficiaries to collect their food. This, however, became a challenge, as the beneficiaries shared the information with others.
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SWAKOPMUND
More than 1 000 Swakopmund residents, mostly mothers with young children and pensioners, assembled at the local fire station on Friday morning, hoping for government food aid. Many said they had been informed via SMS to pick up maize meal, canned fish and potatoes at 10:00.
The food distribution is part of government's support to the poor and needy, and those who lost who have lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some residents said they had queued since 06:00. “I didn't get a text message, but friends told me about it and that's why I'm here,” one mother said.
Long lines
The residents lined up in long lines around the fire station, ignoring social distancing protocols. Erongo police commander, Commissioner Andreas Nelumbu, lamented this, while urging the municipality to prepare better in future. According to Swakopmund CEO Alfeus Benjamin the council received a large amount of food from the prime minister's office, the Erongo governor's office and the private sector. The original plan was to inform registered beneficiaries to collect their food. This, however, became a challenge, as the beneficiaries shared the information with others.
[email protected]
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