STORY: Water shortage crisis threatens livelihood in NW Namibia
SHOOTING TIME: April 23, 2024
DATELINE: April 25, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:43
LOCATION: Windhoek
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of local residents fetching water in Uis, Erongo province, Namibia
2. SOUNDBITE (English): ELTON GURUSEB, Resident in Uis, Namibia
3. various of local residents fetching water in Uis, Erongo province, Namibia

STORYLINE:

As Namibia is in the midst of mitigating the repercussions of drought and climate change over the past decade, its northwestern part of Uis in Erongo province is now grappling with a dire water shortage crisis.

Depleted water tables and rivers that are drying up have led to a severe and prolonged water shortage in Uis, threatening the livelihood of local residents.

SOUNDBITE (English): ELTON GURUSEB, Resident in Uis, Namibia
"We have been struggling with water for the past month and it is so hard to get water in this community. It is so hard that we cannot even cook. Even mamas are getting a tough time even to wash the baby clothes and even children do not have water to bathe before going to school."

Erongo Governor Neville Andre noted that the water crisis goes beyond Uis. He said it is affecting the whole of the Daures Constituency and the government is making an effort to transport water from other areas.

Furthermore, the critical impact of the water crisis is expected to ripple across the country in the field of agriculture.

Namibia's agricultural sector faces significant challenges, as outlined in the Crop Prospects, Food Security and Drought Situation Report, released Monday by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform.

As a result, the southwestern African nation will probably experience widespread crop failures, resulting in severe food shortages.

Namibia Water Corporation Ltd and the City of Windhoek raised concerns early this year as the combined water level in the Central Area of Namibia's three dams hit 22 percent of full capacity, signaling potential water supply shortages amid an ongoing poor rainy season.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Windhoek.
(XHTV)