Refugee food distributions delayed

The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that a serious maize meal shortage has delayed food distribution to refugees in Namibia's Osire camp. In its latest situation report, WFP said food distribution to the 18,000 mainly Angolan refugees in Osire had been delayed until later in the month. The agency said it only had enough maize meal to provide half rations, and the problem could extend into August. "The government of Namibia currently has a ban on importation of maize, in order to encourage local purchase during [the] harvest season - and local purchase cannot be justified, given exorbitant current local prices for maize. WFP is awaiting a reply to its appeals to the government for an exemption to the importation restrictions," the agency's report for 10 to 16 July said. "A loan obtained by WFP of 130 mt of maize meal from a local miller will only be sufficient to provide a half ration of maize meal to refugees in July. There are also concerns that the importation ban will affect the August distribution if WFP is still unable to import maize during August. WFP is continuing discussions with government in order to find a solution to the current crisis, and minimise the suffering caused to the refugees." WFP added that regional purchases of pulses, sugar, corn-soya blend and oil were delivered to the Osire warehouse this month. Meanwhile, the food agency said a second group of 250 Angolan refugees would be voluntarily repatriated from Osire on 23 July under a tripartite agreement between the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Namibian and Angolan governments. The first group of 150 Angolans returned home at the beginning of the month. "This will make a total of 400 Angolan refugees to be repatriated in July, lower than the planned figure of 1,000 refugees per month. WFP Namibia will provide rations for three days to the 250 refugees during their movement from Osire camp and in Kassava transit centre, and then further food assistance in the transit centres in Kuando Kubango [in Angola]," the agency's situation report said.