Wilderness Namibia extends food aid initiative

Wilderness Namibia is helping its partner communities through the worst of the drought by distributing much-needed food relief as part of their ongoing Drought Relief Nutrition Programme.

Since November, the company has delivered over 600 food parcels to eight communities in some of the worst-affected parts of the country, supporting 1 600 people who are in desperate need of basic nutrition, the company noted in a recent statement.

Wilderness Namibia will continue with this initiative into January 2025, to help those experiencing food insecurity through what is expected to be the most difficult drought period, bringing the total number of food parcels distributed to 1 200.

“Wilderness Namibia has had strong, mutually beneficial working relationships with many of these communities for more than 30 years, and we’ve always believed that investing in the well-being of people and local communities is key to protecting wild areas and wildlife," Alex Henderson, Wilderness Namibia managing director, said.

"We are thus extremely grateful to have secured a US$50 000 (N$892 000) donation from the Michael and Karen Stone Family Foundation to help alleviate the dire food insecurity being faced by our partner communities," he added.

The beneficiary communities are located in or near the conservancies where Wilderness operates, including the Doro !Nawas, Ehi Rovipuka, Anabeb, Torra, Sesfontein and Marienfluss conservancies, as well as communities in and around Rietoog and Mariental.

Relief experienced

Wilderness Namibia impact manager Agnes Tjirare-Kerii added: “This drought is devastating for the people of Namibia, as well as for the livestock and wildlife they rely on for livelihoods. Without rainfall, communities are facing serious water shortages, meaning that there is not enough drinking water to go around, their crops are failing and their livestock is perishing."

Tjirare-Kerri said Wilderness recognises these realities and hopes the food relief initiative will help to alleviate the worst of the situation until the rains come.

“We consulted our community leaders with this intervention plan, including the contents in each parcel for maximum nutrition," she added.

Each food parcel distributed can support up to four people for one month and includes salt, matches, cooking oil, soup and soup mix, instant yeast, white bread flour, maize, sugar, rice, tea and coffee.

"I am fortunate to have been on the road distributing the parcels to the communities on behalf of Wilderness Namibia and have personally witnessed the relief in the eyes of the elderly and the bright smiles on the faces of younger members of the community when our vehicles arrive. Our team at Wilderness will reminisce on their kind expressions for some time to come”, she noted.

In addition to the support being rolled out across Namibia, Wilderness is also extending its drought relief programme to communities in need in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, delivering a total of 9 000 emergency food parcels to approximately 12 500 individuals between November and January 2025.