The Namibian government has donated hundreds of wild animals to a national drought relief program, which has left more than 85,000 people at risk of starvation, according to a World Food Program analysis.
The list of animals taken includes about 30 hippos, 60 buffalo, 50 impala, 100 blue wildebeest, 300 zebras and 100 elands. They were caught in the largest parks in Namibia. Parcels of meat from these animals are sent to people in need.
– The number of game animals will be balanced and there will be a limited impact on tourism, assured Romeo Muyunda of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism on Friday.
Namibia asks for help
The government has allocated $45 million for a drought relief program. It is to reach about 172 thousand households nationwide. The total budget for this relief is $71 million. Namibia cannot afford such expenditure, so it has asked the international community for $26 million. The country is still waiting for this aid.
1.4 million people, almost half of Namibia's population, are struggling with food shortages, and over 85,000 people are in such a bad situation that they may soon die of hunger, according to an analysis by the World Food Programme, an agency of the UN.
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