Drought relief food rots in Kavango East

Drought relief food rots in Kavango East Fuel shortage leaves trucks idle Four trucks have been standing idle in the two Kavango regions, unable to deliver the food aid for drought stricken people, which has now gone to waste. About 48 000 bags of maize meal and sorghum meant for people critically affected by drought in the Kavango East Region, has gone to waste.

The chief regional officer of the of the region Ludwig Thikusho told Nampa the food spoiled due to the limited number of trucks to distribute it in the region’s six constituencies.

Thikusho said they received six trucks from the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) in Grootfontein.

“We were then instructed to give two trucks to the Zambezi Region, leaving Kavango West and Kavango East to share the remaining four trucks,” he explained.

However, the trucks remain parked since September due to a lack of fuel.

Thikusho said the responsibility for fuel lies with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

“Before September this year, the trucks were filled up using the petrol cards of the NDF and the bill would then be send to the OPM who would process the payment of the garages where the trucks fill up,” he stressed.

Until now, Thikusho said, he still has not received a satisfactory response from the director responsible for the Disaster Risk Management in the OPM, Japhet Iitenge on why the fuel is not forthcoming.

The management of the regional council is now seeking audience with Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila this week to rectify the problem.

Calls to Iitenge’s phone went unanswered.

Government has set aside N$90 million for drought relief from April this year to feed about 595 000 people in need of food.

NAMPA