NAMIBIA: Namibia is currently experiencing chronic food insecurity as a result of drought due to abnormally low rainfall between October 2014 and February 2015, the active rainfall period for commonly grown crops. Assessments indicate it is the worst crop performance in 80 years with cereal output in 2015 declining 43 per cent from the year before. An estimated 578,480 people have been affected with at least 16 per cent of the population in need of urgent food support, now and through the next harvest in April. For the last three months, over 300 people, mainly women and children, have been walking long distances every day to reach the Namibia Red Cross Society soup kitchen in Opuwo, Kunene district. Most fled their villages after losing their cattle and crops to the drought which is currently gripping large parts of the country.
SERBIA: Heavy downpours across northern Serbia have compounded the misery of thousands of people fleeing violence and persecution as they make their way across Europe. The Red Cross of Serbia, which has supported more than 427,000 migrants with aid since last June, was on hand to provide waterproofs, boots, food, toiletries and baby kits including nappies, wet wipes and talcum powder to families at Adasevci transit camp near Sid.