Namibia is taking desperate measures to feed about 1.4mn citizens who need urgent food aid after the southwest African nation was hit by its worst drought in 100 years.

The country is generally dry and its western coastline is the Namib desert, so without the little rains that traditionally fall over the October 2023-March 2024 growing season, its marginal agriculture sector took a heavy blow.

In a bid to ensure that 48% of the population get by, the government, after declaring the drought a disaster in May, pledged to donate 640 wild animals to feed them, News24 wrote on July 31. 

It has negotiated for cheaper millet imports from India and is forging ahead with a plan to desalinate seawater for consumption in the capital, Windhoek, home to nearly half a million people.  

Agriculture Minister Calle Schlettwein warned that if the rains do not come by October, there could be a !disaster," adding, the government is "working on sourcing water from as far as 400km to supply Windhoek."

Namibia's neighbours including Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe have been affected by the drought as well.

The United Nations recently appealed for $5.8mn to feed the hungry in Namibia. It said it was "deeply alarmed" by the food insecurity situation in the country since May.

The United States has announced $4.8mn in additional humanitarian assistance package for Namibia, for "life-saving food assistance and nutrition support to the most vulnerable Namibian children and their caregivers".

The government is looking to assist subsistence farmers to grow food if the rains come in October.  It will provide subsidised fertilizer and seed as many of the farmers "ate their seeds" due to hunger, News24 wrote.