Japan provides N$10m forvulnerable households

The Japanese government has provided US$500 000 (about N$10 million) as part of its humanitarian assistance to Namibia.

This comes as Namibia experiences severe food insecurity because of the drought.

This was said by the Japanese ambassador to Namibia Nishimaki Hisao when he hosted the speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, the chairperson of the National Council, Lukas Sinimbo Muha and members of the Junior National Council from different schools in the country on Tuesday.

Hisao said the assistance, being channelled through the World Food Programme Namibia, will be targeted at populations and children most at risk of malnutrition in the Kunene and Ohangwena regions.

These communities will have access to nutritious food for six months from October this year to March next year.

“A total of 4 426 households, with 26 555 people, are set to benefit from this assistance,” he said, adding that this assistance is part of more than N$320 million in support Japan has extended to Namibia through trilateral cooperation with the various United Nation agencies in the last 10 years.

He also said Japan had provided more than 300 classrooms to different primary schools in all the 14 regions of Namibia, as well as bringing 160 Japanese volunteers who have been attached to schools, regional government offices and vocational training centres since 2006.

“This is because we believe education is the key to unlock the doors to opportunities, empowerment and prosperity,” he said.

Hisao said the Japanese scholarship programme for Namibia was bearing fruit with one of the beneficiaries, Pamwenafye Nanhapo, a senior lecturer in crop science, spearheading the Ogongo rice project which harvested about 12 tonnes of rice last year.

Nanhapo did his masters and PhD in Japan through this scholarship programme, the ambassador said.

Speaking at the event, Muha said the classrooms built by the Japanese government in Namibia will be a permanent reminder of the good relations between the two countries.

“Some of the junior councillors here are products of those classrooms,” he said.

He said Japan had also inspired Namibians to preserve nature and despite being an arid country, the National Council will spearhead a tree-planting programme during its outreach visits to the regions.

The chairperson of the 42-member Junior National Council, Anna Andimba, said they were heartened by Japan’s strong support for youth empowerment and development.

“We look forward to building upon the foundation of this enduring friendship and working together to shape a brighter and more inclusive future for all,” she said.

– email: matthew@namibian.com.na