Food Bank programme launched at Khorixas

KHORIXAS, 18 SEPT. – Deputy Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Reverend Aino Kapewangolo on Monday officially launched the government’s Food Bank programme for Khorixas residents in the Kunene Region.
The launch coincided with a weeklong training of the Khorixas street committee comprising of seven members who will identify needy households at the town and also later conduct the actual distribution of food to them.
Kapewangolo in her statement said the launch of the programme in the Kunene Region at Khorixas is a clear indication and commitment by Government to fight head-on hunger and poverty among its people.
“The Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare has a key responsibility of ensuring that poverty is wiped off from the face of Namibia,” she said.
The deputy minister added that it is possible to wipe out hunger and poverty through the government social grants and through the rolling out of the activities of the Food Bank to households identified as needy.
The Food Bank was first launched by President Hage Geingob in the capital in June 2016, which was later followed with the distribution of food parcels to identified households in the Khomas Region.
Other new regions identified to benefit from the programme were Hardap, //Kharas, Kavango East and Kavango West.
Speaking on behalf of the Khorixas residents, Mayor Elizabeth Geises said factors such as youth unemployment, drought and human-wildlife conflict have fuelled hunger and poverty in her town and surrounding areas.
“Poverty is here in Khorixas, and the programmes of the Food Bank are really needed to assist our people,” she said.
She called on the seven street committee members of the Food Bank at the town to be honest to the programme, Government and their community members.
Each member of the committee was allocated a block of houses at the town to service.
Their training is conducted by Food Bank Control Officer, Lydia Jossob and the first Retired Cuban Ambassador to Namibia, Angel Dalmau Fernandez. – NAMPA