WFP needs nearly N$70m to address hunger in Namibia
As Namibia grapples with an escalating food insecurity crisis, the World Food Programme (WFP) has ramped up its operations in the country, seeking US$3.9 million (just over N$69 million) in funding to cover the period from August to January 2025.
WFP has already assisted 12 442 Namibians in May with meals provided to 10 985 schoolchildren and Integrated Community-based Food Systems Projects, benefitting 1 457 individuals, according to the WFP Namibia country brief for July.
“Namibia is grappling with persistent challenges of stunting and wasting, stemming from various undernutrition interconnected factors. A key contributor to this issue is suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices, encompassing both breastfeeding and complementary feeding," the brief noted.
"To address this complex problem, WFP partnered with the Advanced Community Health Care Services Namibia (CoHeNa) to conduct a rapid assessment in the Hardap Region. This study aimed to evaluate the current knowledge, attitudes and practices related to nutrition among three vulnerable groups: people living with HIV/TB, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and caregivers of children under five,” the brief highlighted.
Acute hunger rises steadily
The brief further said that, under the Namibia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2017–2024, WFP has focused on providing food assistance to those affected by economic shocks while also strengthening the government's capacity to implement effective policies and practices.
A new strategic outcome added to the CSP aims to bolster food systems and enhance the production capacity of smallholder farmers.
The Office of the Prime Minister said there are 1.4 million people facing food insecurity across Namibia, and the severity and magnitude of acute food insecurity in the country have risen steadily since 2019.
Namibia has also seen a steep increase in malnutrition deaths among children, with the Omaheke Region reporting 26 deaths of children dying from malnutrition since the start of the year, while 300 children have been reported at clinics with malnutrition.
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WFP has already assisted 12 442 Namibians in May with meals provided to 10 985 schoolchildren and Integrated Community-based Food Systems Projects, benefitting 1 457 individuals, according to the WFP Namibia country brief for July.
“Namibia is grappling with persistent challenges of stunting and wasting, stemming from various undernutrition interconnected factors. A key contributor to this issue is suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices, encompassing both breastfeeding and complementary feeding," the brief noted.
"To address this complex problem, WFP partnered with the Advanced Community Health Care Services Namibia (CoHeNa) to conduct a rapid assessment in the Hardap Region. This study aimed to evaluate the current knowledge, attitudes and practices related to nutrition among three vulnerable groups: people living with HIV/TB, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and caregivers of children under five,” the brief highlighted.
Acute hunger rises steadily
The brief further said that, under the Namibia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2017–2024, WFP has focused on providing food assistance to those affected by economic shocks while also strengthening the government's capacity to implement effective policies and practices.
A new strategic outcome added to the CSP aims to bolster food systems and enhance the production capacity of smallholder farmers.
The Office of the Prime Minister said there are 1.4 million people facing food insecurity across Namibia, and the severity and magnitude of acute food insecurity in the country have risen steadily since 2019.
Namibia has also seen a steep increase in malnutrition deaths among children, with the Omaheke Region reporting 26 deaths of children dying from malnutrition since the start of the year, while 300 children have been reported at clinics with malnutrition.
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