Niël Terblanché
The European Union (EU) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) have announced a joint humanitarian contribution of about N$24 million to support Namibia’s drought response. The funding will target the regions most affected by the ongoing drought.
The EU is providing €911,000 (around N$19 million) through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Agency (ECHO).
Unicef is contributing an additional €228,000 (roughly N$5 million) from its own resources.
The announcement was made during a formal ceremony in Windhoek on Tuesday, attended by prime minister Elijah Ngurare.
The aid will support life-saving services for around 86,000 people in drought-hit areas, including Katima Mulilo in Zambezi, Andara, Nyangana and Rundu in Kavango East, Nkurekuru and Nankundu in Kavango West, Okongo, Eenhana and Engela in Ohangwena and Khorixas, Outjo and Opuwo in the Kunene Region.
Unicef will manage the funds in close coordination with Namibian authorities.
The intervention will support access to healthcare, nutrition, child protection, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services.
It will also strengthen community-based protection systems and improve emergency preparedness by prepositioning essential supplies.
Unicef Namibia country representative Samuel Ocran welcomed the support.
“This generous contribution from the European Union is crucial. It will enable us to reach more children with the immediate, life-saving nutritional needs of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition, and ensure continuous access to water, sanitation and hygiene services in health care facilities, especially in hard-to-reach areas,” he said.
EU ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Namibia.
“Over the past 35 years of relations, the EU–Namibia partnership has evolved into a partnership of equals, spanning across a wide range of topics. Namibia can also count on the EU in times of drought and hardship,” she said.
The support forms part of the EU’s humanitarian strategy for Southern Africa, which focuses on the intersection of climate change, food insecurity, and public health.
Martins said the funding will strengthen both national and community-level resilience during the current drought crisis.
