ReliefWeb

Highlights

• UNICEF provided eight water tanker trucks to the Government of Namibia to support water-stressed communities in seven drought-affected regions. UNICEF also provided 15,000 bednets in support of the malaria outbreak response which has affected more than 11,900 people in the first quarter of 2017.

• UNICEF-supported Community Health Workers have reached more than 6,000 children with nutrition screening (over 2,400 children under five), of which 76 children under-five were referred for treatment for SAM. In addition, over 2,500 people received key messages on sanitation and hygiene.

• Against the 2017 Humanitarian Action for Children, UNICEF Namibia requires an additional US $990K to meet the humanitarian needs of women and children. Without additional funding, UNICEF will not be able to scale up the support to build resilience in the population in the critical programmatic sectors.

Situation in Numbers

155,924 Total population in flood affected areas

70,000 Children in flood affected areas

8,500 Children 6-59 months affected by severe and moderate acute malnutrition

24% Prevalence of stunting among children under-five

UNICEF Appeal 2017 US$ 2.7 million

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

Between January and April 2017, Namibia received erratic rainfall which caused widespread flooding in the northern regions bordering Angola. This followed the El Niño-related drought emergency which was declared in June 2016 and ended in March 2017.

The floods affected an estimated 155,924 people and at their peak (April 2017) displaced 3,331 people who received shelter and essential services from the Regional Authorities of Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana and Zambezi.

Flooding also contributed to an increase in malaria cases, affecting Namibia’s goal to control and eliminate malaria by 2020. Based on the statement from the Minister of Health on 29 March 2017, 11,902 people had contracted malaria in Namibia in the first quarter of 2017,1 resulting in 18 deaths. This is more than triple the number recorded from the same period in 2015.

Fall Armyworm outbreaks have been reported in Zambezi, Kavango, and the maize triangle (Grootfontein and Otavi districts in Otjozondjupa), resulting in losses of about 1,980 Ha of maize. In addition, 6,500 Ha of maize is under threat which is growing in commercial farms located in the maize triangle area (Otjozondjupa and Oshakati Regions). This outbreak also affected communal farmers who planted maize or pearl millet under dry land – affecting approximately 13,400 Ha and threatening the livelihood of an estimated 20,673 households. The latest crop assessment reports that, despite this, the country received a good cereal harvest which is estimated at 84 percent higher than last season’s harvest and about 16 percent above the average production.