CERF allocates almost US$ 1 million to refugees in Osire camp in Namibia

March 2007: Approximately 6,500 refugees live in Osire refugee camp. While the majority of the population is from Angola, a small number of refugees from the Great Lakes region also reside in Osire refugee camp. Due to the low number and profile of this caseload as well as the protracted nature of the situation, this operation has become chronically underfunded.

In April 2006, a UNHCR/WFP joint assessment mission was conducted in Osire camp. The assessment concluded that refugees and asylum seekers at Osire camp are food secure only due to the regular food assistance from WPF, and that in the event of termination of food assistance, the nutritional status of the refugees would deteriorate rapidly. Moreover, refugees remain highly vulnerable, with no official access to arable land or labour markets.

Angolan refugee Natalia Daniel and her children [Photo: IRIN]

The CERF allocation will enable WFP to provide food assistance in order to meet the minimum standard of 2,100 kc per person per day through general distributions and supplementary feeding for approximately 6,000 beneficiaries in Osire refugee camp. UNHCR will provide basic medical services, shelter and non-food items as well as improved water and sanitation facilities as part of the overall protection framework.

One third of all funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund is earmarked for use in underfunded emergencies, in order to help redress imbalances in global aid distribution, as a result of which millions of people in so-called neglected or forgotten crises remain in need.

This allocation to Namibia in March 2007 forms part of the third allocation from the underfunded window of the CERF.   more...

[last update: 21 March 2007]

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