Namibia — humanitarian situation

Namibia continues to experience elevated food security needs driven by the lingering effects of drought and multiple compounding shocks, despite the conclusion of the national drought-response programme. WFP reached 138,013 people in March 2026, including 11,800 schoolchildren, with food and nutrition assistance, and distributed 2,326 metric tons of rice to 105,813 households in May 2026 (WFP). The organization reports that vulnerable households remain under significant strain and has identified urgent additional funding requirements to maintain assistance levels while supporting the Government's efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness, social protection systems, and food-systems resilience under its Country Strategic Plan covering 2025–2029 (WFP). While Namibia was not among the countries most severely affected by La Niña-related heavy rains that impacted over 2.36 million people across Southern Africa since December 2025, the broader regional context of climate extremes, economic shocks, and disease outbreaks continues to influence humanitarian conditions (OCHA). In April 2026, Namibia participated in a coordinated cross-border polio vaccination campaign alongside Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, protecting over 10 million children across the three countries (WHO). Laboratory sequencing confirmed genetically linked poliovirus strains circulating across borders, prompting the synchronized public health response (WHO). The primary humanitarian concern remains food insecurity affecting vulnerable populations who received assistance through the now-concluded national drought response. WFP's distribution figures indicate a substantial caseload requiring continued support, with household-level assistance maintaining relatively balanced coverage between female-headed (53%) and male-headed (47%) households (WFP). The organization's ongoing operations focus on maintaining safety nets while building longer-term resilience, though resource constraints pose challenges to sustaining response activities.