Korea contributes nearly 5,000 tons of rice to support Namibians recovering from drought

The rice will support approximately 300,000 people between April and December 2026, as vulnerable households continue to rebuild their livelihoods following one of the worst droughts in the country’s history that affected 1.4 million people across all 14 regions. 

“This assistance comes at a crucial time as many families’ food stocks remain depleted,” said Eric Perdison, WFP Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, during a handover ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in Windhoek. “We are deeply grateful to the Republic of Korea for standing with Namibia in its recovery efforts.”

Although Namibia has experienced plentiful rainfall in recent months, some communities continue to face rising food prices, loss of livelihoods and soil degradation while flooding in other areas has disrupted planting activities, leaving households uncertain about their next harvest.

“This is a symbol of Korea’s unwavering commitment to stand with the Namibian people in times of unpredictable challenges, ranging from COVID-19 pandemic to natural disasters. Korea will continue to closely work with the Namibian government to build a more vibrant, resilient and prosperous future for both countries,” said His Excellency Kwanjin Choi, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Namibia.

The Office of the Prime Minister, through its disaster risk management structures, will oversee the distribution of the rice to all fourteen regions of Namibia through Regional Councils, ensuring the assistance reaches vulnerable households across the country. 

“Our country continues to face severe climate variability, from drought to devastating floods and many of our people are affected. This donation arrives at exactly the right time to complement the government’s efforts to ensure food security for the most vulnerable households across all 14 regions,” said Right Honorable Dr. Elijah Ngurare, Prime Minister of Namibia.

Korea’s support carries particular significance. Once a recipient of food assistance, the country has become a major contributor to global food security and a longstanding partner of WFP. The donation forms part of a 150,000 metric ton global contribution from Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, supporting 17 countries affected by food insecurity. 

WFP will continue working with the Government of Namibia to strengthen food security, support drought recovery efforts, and build resilience to future climate-related shocks, while further enhancing national capacity to better prepare for and respond to shocks in the future. 

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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