Press Release

U.S. Government Grants $US 650,000 in Further Assistance to Namibian Flood Victims

The United States Embassy in Windhoek announced on Monday, April 6, 2009, that the U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), has donated $US 650,000 to UNICEF and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) to further assist flood-affected communities in Namibia’s six northern and north eastern regions.  OFDA’s grant of $US 300,000 to IFRC will be used for shelter and the distribution of basic non-food items.  UNICEF will use its $US 350,000 grant to fully fund a water, sanitation and hygiene project that will provide safe water and sanitation for a period of six to eight weeks to 13,000 displaced Namibians.

The Government of the Republic of Namibia, the United Nations and other humanitarian partners estimate that the flood has impacted up to 350,000 Namibians.  They estimate that 13,000 Namibians are displaced, with over 9,000 currently housed in relocation camps.

On March 26, 2009, the U.S. Government also donated $US 50,000 to the Namibian Red Cross Society to provide for health, hygiene, shelter and other non-food emergency items, including six boats, bringing the total assistance from the American people to the 2009 Namibian flood relief efforts to $US 700,000.  The United States also provided assistance during the 2003 floods in the Caprivi as well as during the 2008 flood disaster in Namibia’s northern regions.

For more information, please contact Public Affairs Officer, Ray Castillo, at 0811280816, or Information Assistant, Roger Lyners, at 229801 (ext. 226).