The Namibian government has taken a drastic measure to tackle widespread drought in the Southern African country as hunger stares many citizens in the eye by distributing assorted game meat across the country.

Among the animals to be distributed are elands, wildebeests, impalas, and buffalos.

The total number of animals to be contributed by the government is 723.

This measure was recently announced in a statement by the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

“The Ministry with Cabinet approval is contributing game meat to support the drought relief programme by government. The Ministry will contribute 723 animals comprising 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeests, 300 zebras, 83 elephants and 100 elands. 

“The animals are sourced from national parks and communal areas with sustainable game numbers,” the statement said.

This drought relief measure also aims to reduce conflict between humans and animals as drought ravages the country, possibly forcing animals to scavenge for water and food outside their reserve.

The statement added, “With the severe drought situation in the country, conflicts are expected to increase if no interventions are made. To this effect, 83 elephants from identified conflict areas will be culled; meat will be allocated to the drought relief program under the Office of the Prime Minister.”

Recently, the United Nations noted that 84 per cent of Namibia’s food reserves “are already exhausted, and nearly half of the population is expected to experience high levels of food insecurity between July and September,” describing the drought as a “humanitarian crisis.”

It added, “Our acting Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, allocated $3 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support the Government-led response to this crisis.”