The United States Government through the World Food Program (WFP) continues to deliver food assistance during the COVID-19 state of emergency. The U.S. Embassy in Windhoek previously announced $8.6 million USD in food assistance to Namibians affected by the drought.
Beneficiaries and staff distributing maize meal, beans, and vegetable oil are limiting the risk of coronavirus transmission by following strict precautionary measures such as social distancing, wearing face masks, and using hand sanitizer and gloves.
The life-saving support program which intends to meet the nutritional gap of food insecure families is funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Implementing partners are distributing 10,000 metric tons of food to 350,000 Namibians in close cooperation with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
At food distribution points, recipients line up 1.5 meters apart from each other and are advised to spend as little time as possible at the distribution point. “When we arrived to collect our food this morning, we were informed about the coronavirus and told where to queue. Please continue helping us wherever you can, we are very grateful for the food,” says 16-year-old Aili.
Beneficiaries expressed special gratitude for the donors and the Government of Namibia in ensuring food assistance even during the difficult times of the COVID-19 emergency. The U.S. government-funded food assistance program is scheduled to continue until July 2020.
