By Rosemary Nalisa, Namibia Red Cross Society

It is just before one o’clock on a Friday afternoon and school has let out at a camp in the Lusese area of Namibia’s Caprivi region. At first glance, you might think it is a military base, due to the army green tents pitched in neat rows in the sandy, open space. But the desks and green chalkboards illustrating the day’s lessons suggest something different. These are classrooms in a camp for families left homeless due to flooding.

Food security levels are generally better than a year earlier in East Africa and the Sahel, with most areas facing either IPC phase 1 ‘minimal’ or phase 2 ‘stressed’ conditions, thanks to favorable agro-climatic conditions in 2012.

16 May 2013 - Story by Lorraine Kazondovi

WINDHOEK – Government has rolled out a massive nationwide drought relief assistance initiative in the form of subsidies, new infrastructure set-up and support mechanisms for crop and livestock farmers.

15 May 2013 - Story by Albertina Nakale

CORRIDOR 17 - Aminuis Constituency Councillor Erwin Uanguta has appealed to the Office of the Prime Minister's Risk and Disaster Management Unit to broaden the provision of drought relief food to all households in drought-stricken areas.

HIGHLIGHTS

 The region is exposed to a range of environmental and social pressures.

 47 defined international humanitarian emergencies were identified between 2000 and 2012.

 The results highlight the short recurrence intervals for major shocks and the annual co-occurrence of multiple shocks.

 The research signals a transition from conditions of armed conflict seen in the 1980s and 1990s to social conflicts, often in urban areas, particularly in national capitals.

Heavy, torrential rain fell over many parts of western Ethiopia, South Sudan, southern Somalia, Kenya and Uganda.

1) Poorly distributed and significantly below average seasonal rainfall has resulted in deteriorating ground conditions since January. This has negatively impacted crops and livestock throughout many parts of southern Angola and northern Namibia.

SADC Executive Secretary Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão, and the German Ambassador to Botswana & SADC, H.E Mrs Annett Günther, signed, on April 10, 2013, four agreements formalising support from the Federal Republic of Germany to the SADC Region. The agreements, totaling €44.2 million, cover commitments made in 2010 and 2011 under SADC-Germany Cooperation on the agreed focal areas of cooperation which include:

• Transboundary water management;

• Transboundary management and protection of natural resources;

• and Regional economic cooperation.

02 May 2013 - Story by Francis Xoagub

BERSEBA – With memories of last year’s drought still fresh in their memories, communal farmers in the south are afraid the current devastating dry spell will continue until December.

One of the worst droughts in years continues to worsen according to the latest Namibia Crop Prospect and Food Security Situation Report. “At this point in time I’m very concerned about it,” said Daniel Gariseb (63) of farm //Khu !Hoes in the Berseba district during an interview with New Era this week.

Mountain climbing for most is a sign of strength, courage, achievement and perhaps a sense of freedom. For the 25 men and women who summited Mountain Brandberg in Namibia from 18-21 April, their drive was solidarity against gender-based violence (GBV).

Led by young people, gender activists, women affected by GBV, representatives of non-government organisations, artists, poets, and radio personalities completed the climb to increase public awareness on GBV and advocate for behaviour change in Namibia.