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Namibia

Namibia, Africa | Drought - Emergency Appeal No: MDRNA014

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SITUATION OVERVIEW

For the past decade, Namibia has faced a prolonged drought, which continues to persist and has been further exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon. This ongoing drought significantly impacts food security and the livelihoods of vulnerable populations in the country. The Namibia Meteorological Service’s Climate Bulletin for March 2024 indicated that rainfall across Namibia has been minimal, with most of the country experiencing below-normal rainfall from October 2023 to April 2024. This is due to the ongoing El Niño conditions in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

In Southern Africa, El Niño is linked to drought, irregular rainfall, and high temperatures, which lead to water scarcity, reduced food supply, and outbreaks of disease. These conditions worsen existing food security challenges, necessitating increased humanitarian aid, recovery of livelihoods, and resilience building.

According to the Drought Response Plan released in July 2024 by the Office of the Prime Minister, between April and June 2024, approximately 1,203,219 people in Namibia (40% of the population) were experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 and above) and urgently needed assistance to address food shortages and protect their livelihoods. This figure has more than doubled from the 491,000 people (19% of the population) who were projected to face food insecurity during the same period in the 2023/24 IPC report. The report indicated that the entire country (all 14 regions) was classified as being in crisis (IPC Phase 3 and above) and in need of action to protect livelihoods.

Namibia’s deteriorating food security is mainly driven by the impact of El Niño on crop and livestock production, drought/dry spells/erratic rainfall, price shocks, economic decline, and unemployment. Many households depend on crop and livestock farming which relies heavily on seasonal rains. However, dry spells, and sporadic and insufficient rainfall in January and February led to crop wilting, which is expected to negatively impact the upcoming harvest. From July to September 2024, food insecurity is expected to worsen, affecting an additional 8% of the population. This will bring the total number of people facing serious food shortages to approximately 1.4 million, or 48% of the population (IPCT 3+).

The 2023/24 agricultural season saw generally poor rainfall across most regions. According to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform released in March 2024, the crop harvest is expected to be poor, especially in the northern regions where most crops are grown. Many households, particularly in farming areas, have exhausted their food supplies from the previous season and are now relying on the market and drought relief efforts for sustenance.

On 22 May 2024, the President of the Republic of Namibia declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing drought. Although drought relief food distribution is still ongoing in all regions, additional resources are needed to reach everyone affected, as the number of food insecure households continues to increase. Furthermore, livestock estimates indicate that the lack of adequate pastures and water shortages have adversely affected livestock production. As a result, animals in the western and eastern parts of the country are in fair to poor condition.