Otjiwarongo: Government ‘ s drought relief food distribution programme officially commenced for the Otjiwarongo Constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region on Wednesday . Constituency councillor , Marlayn Mbakera told Nampa in an interview on Wednesday that the region has more than 21 000 registered beneficiaries for the drought relief programme this year alone . Mbakera said the food distribution on Wednesday includes a 20 kilogramme ( kg ) bag of maize meal , four tins of fish and a 750 millimetre bottle of cooking oil to be issued to about 120 beneficiaries residing in Otjiwarongo ‘ s peri – urban and informal areas . ‘ Our aim is to ensure that no one dies of hunger in this country , both in rural and peri – urban areas ,’ said Mbakera . She explained that Namibia is facing a severe drought and the drought relief programme is a government plan aimed at supplementing food for identified households facing hunger and the effects of the drought . The politician stated that for the peri – urban Otjiwarongo Constit
uency , about 2 000 people registered , and only 1 100 are captured on the master list which was approved by the Office of the Prime Minister supplying the food parcels to the Otjozondjupa Regional Council . ‘ The region ‘ s peri – urban list has 11 000 registered people , and 5 000 names were approved as beneficiaries ,’ she said . Mbakera further said the distribution of the drought relief food parcels in Otjozondjupa will take place on a monthly basis from now on until the Office of Prime Minister indicates that the programme is ending . Most of the beneficiaries thanked government for the parcels , saying hunger is impacting them negatively . The 42 – year – old Aina Damara from the Tsaraxa – Aibes informal area however asked that the maize meal allocated to beneficiaries be increased from one to three bags as she said for single mothers like herself with eight minor children , one 20kg bag of maize meal only lasts her few days . The drought relief distribution is underway in all seven constituencies of t
he region ( Tsumkwe , Grootfontein , Otavi , Okakarara , Okahandja , Omatako and Otjiwarongo ), said Mbakera , who doubles as chairperson of the Otjozondjupa Regional Council .

Source: The Namibia News Agency