UN Namibia Handover of Floods Response Donations

The United Nations (UN) Namibia in the Republic of Namibia met with the Prime Minister, Right Hon. Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila to hand over flood’s response donations to the value of 1996461.13 NAD.

In line with the UN reforms, one of the Resident Coordinator, responsibilities are to coordinate the operational activities for development of the UN in support of Namibia’s efforts towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Mobilizing humanitarian assistance based on urgent needs of the affected people which is one such example where when we can come together and to ensure greater impact.

“Witnessing the plight of several households, who have been affected and temporarily displaced, as a result of the floods in the Northern Regions, particularly in Ohangwena and Oshana, we could not sit back and watch so, we have pooled our effort to provide dignity kits, mosquito nets, food vouchers, water purification tablets, tents and the list goes on,” said Ms. Phororo, UN Resident Coordinator to Namibia.

The UN’s work in Namibia is under the ambit of the United Nations Partnership Assistance Framework (UNPAF) 2019-2024, a reflection of our contribution to Namibia’s priorities, as reflected in the Vision 2030, Harambe Prosperity Plan and the National Development Plan 5. Through the Pillar on Environmental Sustainability, our efforts have focused to address climate change, whose impact is real, as weather patterns changing. The need to look at the development and humanitarian nexus cannot be overemphasized to ensure that assistance is provided to those at risk of being left behind.

Disaster and climate risks pose serious threats to key sectors of Namibia and the ultimate realization of SDGs. The need for an operational Early Warning System becomes even more pressing and building capacity in the field of Disaster Risk Management is critical to ensure that Namibia is better prepared to respond to such crises. The UN remains committed to support the Government in strengthening and coordinating risk management.

To this effect, UN Namibia continue to offer its technical and financial support to complete the National Vulnerability Assessment, finalize the National Resilience Strategy and support the development of a full project proposal to the Green Climate Fund on Climate Information and Early Warning Systems.

After all, Secretary General António Guterres has been calling for universal early warning coverage in the next five years. Extreme weather events will happen. But they do not need to become deadly disasters.

Ms. Hopolang Phororo reiterated the UN’s firm commitment to provide humanitarian assistance to the Namibian people and to work closely with the Namibian Government on issues of global interests and shared priorities to realize inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented outcomes, in areas such as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN Namibia delegation led by the Resident Coordinator was accompanied by UN Country Team members of World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).