School feeding scheme gets a boost

Turkey joined other international communities in helping with drought relief aid by donating 2850 bags of maize each weighing 12.5 kgs, worth approximnately N$487,000, earlier this week.
The donation from Turkey was done through their development agency, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the donation is set to help with the school feeding programme.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on receiving the donation said it came at an opportune time, as currently most children are writing examinations and this is a major boost in the northern parts of the country especially in the Kunene Region, which has been hit hardest by the drought.
The Ambassador of Turkey to Namibia, HE Deniz Çakar, said Turkey has been observing the situation and saw the need to assist Namibia.
Çakar said, the TIKA team was already on the road to distribute and deliver some of the aid to Grade 10 and 12 learners in the Kunene Region.
Meanwhile at the same event, a local firm, DeepSea Consolidated Investment, also donated 10 tonnes worth N$327,000 of epap, a pre-cooked cereal made from whole grain maize and soya beans with 28 added nutrients.
The donation of the fortified food, according to Nandi-Ndaitwah, is set to go to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, due to the fact that it holds a lot of nutrients that are needed by patients.
“The Ministry of Health and Social Services will be in a better position to distribute the food at hospitals and we also want it to have an immediate impact,” she added.
Nandi-Ndaitwah then called on all the responsible authorities that are handling the aid, to use it for its rightful purposes and not otherwise.
Earlier in June, Namibia through the Office of the Prime Minister formally appealed to the international community for help with drought following the declaration of a state of emergency.