Brutal drought lingers in Kunene
KHORIXAS - An assessment of the drought situation in the Kunene region has indicated that the recent rainfall received there, has not made a major impact on the Epupa constituency, Tulimekondjo Pandeni, spokesperson at Kunene Regional Council has said.
Pandeni in an interview with Nampa last week said the team during the assessment came across dead livestock within the Epupa constituency where both animal and human lives are severely affected by the drought.
“We have observed about 15 dead carcasses in the Epupa constituency, and fewer in the Sesfontein area and will continue to monitor. It is also important to note that the condition of drought in the region will not change much due to the climate change of the region,” Pandeni said.
Pandeni however said the assessment can assist track and monitor the situation on the ground and in so doing best prepare for the drought as it will be reoccurring every year, adding that better measures
should therefore be put in place, in assuring that food aid reaches the communities well in advance as well as fodder for animals to reduce the number in the loss of
animals.
According to Pandeni, a full report will be compiled at the end of the mission and tabled to council as well as send to central
government for intervention especially with regards to food aid and fodder and perhaps with intervention from other stakeholders such as agriculture and rural water supply, farmers unions and other relevant entities, to find more workable solutions, that will assist reduce the detestation effect of animal loss, migration of human due to hunger for the wellbeing and livelihood of all humans affected. Speaking to Nampa on Friday, Epupa councillor, Kuuoko Daniel said the drought situation has forced inhabitants to migrate to Opuwo in search of better living conditions.
“They have lost their livestock that is their only source of income. I would like to call upon the central government to consider increasing drought relief food for human consumption. It will at least solve the human hunger situation that our people here are faced with,” Daniel noted.
The drought assessment mission is an initiative from the office of Kunene governor Marius Sheya, who at the beginning of the drought established a taskforce consisting of various officials from the office of the governor and the Kunene Regional Council.