Drought: the worst lies ahead

With more than 40 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, SADC has launched an appeal for more than N$34 billion because of the severe El Niño-induced drought affecting the region. There are currently 23 million people in need of emergency assistance and 10 countries in SADC have requested humanitarian assistance.More than 643 000 drought-related livestock deaths have been reported in Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe alone due to lack of pasture, lack of water and disease outbreaks. It is further estimated that 1.66 million tons of maize will be required for immediate food assistance over the next few months up until March 2017.While the effects of the drought are already apparent, the peak phase of this emergency is expected to start in October this year and last until March next year. “The meagre harvests of April 2016 are providing some relief, but these are being quickly depleted. The lean period is therefore anticipated to start earlier and last longer than in most years and for some areas this emergency phase will have continued from last year, requiring a complete reprogramming of humanitarian operations,” the appeal document warns. The international community has been requested to provide assistance to Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.Namibia requires total funding of about N$809 million. The government is only able to provide N$297 million and a shortfall of N$510 million remains. This money will be used to assist 729 000 people in Namibia who have been affected by the drought. An estimated 57% of the population is currently food insecure. The money required will be used to provide assistance in the areas of food and agriculture security to the tune of N$271.7 million, water and hygiene quality to the tune of N$153 million, and N$84.3 million for health and nutrition. Food relief is targeting the very poor and rural households facing food deficits.A livestock marketing incentive programme is encouraging farmers to destock in order to reduce pressure on pastures.According to the appeal document the government is implementing interim food assistance to 595 839 beneficiaries from May to July 2016 while a comprehensive drought programme is envisaged to start from August to March 2017. Interventions to be implemented include livestock marketing incentives, subsidies for ploughing services, free seed distribution, drilling and rehabilitation of boreholes and laying of water pipelines. In the medium term the government needs a groundwater project initiative budgeted at N$830 million, of which N$40 million is available in the 2016-2019 government budget.Furthermore, N$1.5 billion is required for the development of the Okavango-Grootfontein pipeline link to the Eastern National Water Carrier (ENWC).N$15.5 billion is required for the supply of desalinated water in the Erongo and Khomas regions, while N$250 million is required for the artificial recharge of groundwater in Windhoek and this money is not available. The document also states that Namibia is in need of N$3.65 billion for the construction of large dams.Meanwhile there is an above 70% chance that a La Niña event will occur by late 2016. For Southern Africa, La Niña is generally associated with above-average December to March rainfall, particularly in the southern half of the SADC region, although variability occurs.A La Niña may help reduce water deficits accumulated over the past two seasons, as well as potentially facilitate recovery of the agricultural sector from the huge production deficits expected this season. The agricultural sector therefore needs to be well prepared with appropriate inputs to maximise the opportunity presented by potentially good rains. However, the prediction of La Niña also implies an increased risk of floods and therefore contingency plans must be taken into account.ELLANIE SMIT

Drought: the worst lies ahead

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-04-16

Please login to leave a comment

Drought: the worst lies ahead

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-04-16

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content