India Sends 1000 Tons of Rice to Help Namibia During Drought
India has stepped up to support Namibia by sending 1000 metric tons of rice from Maharashtra’s Nhava Sheva Port. This shipment aims to boost Namibia’s food security, which has been severely affected by an El Nino-induced drought.
Humanitarian Support
Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, shared on X, “Humanitarian support to Namibia: In solidarity with the Global South. As a credible HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) provider and a reliable friend, India is extending food grain assistance to the people of Namibia, to strengthen their food security in the wake of recent spells of drought.”
Impact of El Nino
The El Nino climate phenomenon has caused irregular global weather patterns, leading to deteriorating food security conditions in Namibia. This has negatively impacted crop and livestock production, caused food price shocks, and increased unemployment.
Food Security Crisis
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Report warns of a severe food security crisis in Namibia. An estimated 1.4 million individuals, nearly half of the population, are expected to experience high levels of acute food insecurity. This critical situation is expected to worsen during the lean season from September 2024 to March 2025.
India-Namibia Relations
India and Namibia share warm and cordial relations. The Namibian people and leadership view India as a dependable and trusted friend, recalling Indian support during their liberation struggle.
Doubts Revealed
Namibia -: Namibia is a country in Africa. It is facing a big problem because there is not enough rain, which is called a drought.
Nhava Sheva Port -: Nhava Sheva Port is a big place in Maharashtra, India, where ships carry goods to other countries. It is also known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
El Nino -: El Nino is a weather pattern that makes some places very dry and others very wet. It can cause problems like droughts and floods.
Ministry of External Affairs -: The Ministry of External Affairs is a part of the Indian government that deals with other countries. They help with things like sending aid and making friends with other nations.
Randhir Jaiswal -: Randhir Jaiswal is a person who speaks for the Ministry of External Affairs. He tells people about what India is doing to help other countries.
food security -: Food security means having enough food for everyone to eat. When there is a drought, it can be hard to grow food, so countries need help to make sure people don’t go hungry.
acute food insecurity -: Acute food insecurity means that a lot of people do not have enough food to eat and are very hungry. It is a serious problem that needs quick help.
lean season -: The lean season is a time when there is not much food available. For Namibia, this is from September 2024 to March 2025.
