Day 1 Article 4

Question 1

Who declared the drought in Namibia a national emergency, and what role does Reena Ghelani play in this crisis?

Answer 1

President Nangolo Mbumba declared the drought a national emergency. Reena Ghelani is the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Climate Crisis Coordinator.

Question 2

What organizations are involved in addressing the drought in Namibia, and what actions have they taken?

Answer 2

United Nations (UN): Issued an urgent appeal and expressed concern.
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): Estimated food insecurity.
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform: Called for a national emergency and is working on support for farmers.
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism: Donated game meat.
Southern African Development Community (SADC): Issued a humanitarian appeal.
United States: Announced a R90-million humanitarian assistance package.

Question 3

What regions and locations in Namibia are most affected by the drought?

Answer 3

Namibia as a country is facing severe drought. The capital city, Windhoek, is impacted, and the Omaheke region has a significant portion of the population at risk of acute starvation.

Question 4

What actions has Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism taken to address food insecurity, and what numbers are associated with this effort?

Answer 4

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has donated 640 wild animals from national parks to provide game meat. This includes 30 hippos, 60 buffalo, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeests, 300 zebras, and 100 elands.

Question 5

What are the current statistics related to food insecurity and national food reserves in Namibia?

Answer 5

48% of Namibia’s population is regarded as food insecure, and the national food reserves are at 16%.

Question 6

What is the estimated cost of the humanitarian appeal by the SADC, and how many people are affected across Southern Africa?

Answer 6

The estimated cost of the humanitarian appeal by the SADC is R100 billion, and more than 60 million people across Southern Africa are affected by drought challenges.

Question 7

What has the United States contributed in response to Namibia’s drought crisis?

Answer 7

The United States has announced a R90-million humanitarian assistance package for food and nutrition support.

Question 8

How many animals of each type have been donated by Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism?

Answer 8

30 hippos
60 buffalo
50 impalas
100 blue wildebeests
300 zebras
100 elands