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Namibia lacks sufficient data and resources to provide adequate support to 130 000 orphans, many of them affected by AIDS, according a new report. The country required a centralised comprehensive food security and vulnerability information system, according to René Verduijn, a consultant hired by the World Food Programme (WFP) to assess support for orphans
and vulnerable children (OVC) in Namibia. About 200 000 AIDS orphans will exist in Namibia by 2021. Half the current 130 000 orphans live in the central northern regions, the rest in the Okavango, Caprivi, and in and around Windhoek, the Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) of the United Nations reported. Verduijn provided details of the various interventions run by government bodies and NGOs, including the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Child Welfare (MWACW), with its implementing partners, such as the WFP, the Namibian Red Cross Society (NRCS) and faith-based organisations, among them the Catholic AIDS Action (CAA), all of which appeared to be affected by technical constraints.

Since 2004 the WFP has been feeding 113 00 OVC’s in Caprivi, Okavango, Oshikoto and Ohangwena. The programme was hampered by the lack of up-to-date lists of beneficiaries and transport, was delayed by 4 months and only 4 of the originally planned 6 regions were being covered. "Often, legitimate beneficiaries show up at the distribution points but do not find their names on the form, even though some of them are registered with the MWACW," said Verduijn. The systematic registration of OVCs should become a priority, recommended Verduijn. The MWACW provides social assistance grants to 25 000 OVC’s, and more than 11 000 families are already taking care of OVCs. The authorities are expected to care for another 25 000 OVCs this year. During school terms, the ministry of basic education currently provides meals 5 times a week to over 100 000 primary school pupils through the National School Feeding Programme. The full report is available at www.sarpn.org.za/documents/d0001116/P1233-Main_report_Namibia_Nov2004.pdf.