Food assistance to refugees and asylum seekers has been ongoing since the first influx of Angolan refugees between 1999 and 2002, during which period, some 23,000 Angolans fled into Namibia.
This operation succeeds emergency operation 10145.1. The UNHCR/WFP Joint Assessment Mission (JAM), carried out in 2006, concluded that refugees and asylum seekers in Osire camp are currently food secure only due to the regular food assistance from WFP and that in the event of termination of food assistance, refugees and asylum seekers’ nutritional status will deteriorate in a matter of months.
The assessment also confirmed that, stemming from a strict confinement policy in place, refugees and asylum seekers remain highly vulnerable, with no official access to arable land, labour market and higher education opportunities.
While continuing to provide relief assistance to those residing in Osire camp, WFP will provide a three-month ration to individuals being locally integrated or voluntarily repatriated. In addition, PRRO 10543.0 will continue to support the small caseload of malnourished children through the supplementary feeding programme.
