Ondera: An emergency food support programme aimed at benefiting 3,150 vulnerable households through 12 early childhood development (ECD) centres across eight regions of the country was launched at Ondera farm in the Guinas Constituency of the Oshikoto Region.According to Namibia Press Agency, the two-year emergency programme is a collaborative initiative between Chevron and the Palms for Life Fund Namibia, with a funding of N.dollars 8 million. The regions set to benefit from this programme are Omusati, Oshikoto, Kavango West, Kunene, Kavango East, Omaheke, Zambezi, and Otjozondjupa.In a speech read on her behalf, Vice President Lucia Witbooi highlighted that the initiative is aimed at addressing acute food insecurity and malnutrition. It represents a collective social responsibility to tackle a significant challenge, particularly in indigenous minority communities. The programme is expected to reach approximately 15,750 people annually through shared household consumption, improving school concentration for children, strengthening health for mothers, and enhancing community resilience.Chevron Namibia country manager Beatrice Bienvenu stated that the programme's primary goal is to provide urgent support to families facing hunger and malnutrition. Across eight regions, 12 centres are delivering daily nutritious meals to vulnerable households, impacting more than 15,000 individuals each year. Bienvenu emphasized that children and families at ECD centres will benefit from daily nutritious meals, which will enhance learning, health, and potential. The aim is not only to address immediate needs but also to foster partnerships with governments, non-profits, and communities for sustainable impact.Palms for Life national coordinator Kingston Makoni noted that a 2025 vulnerability assessment found that 75 percent of families in their operating communities depend on just one meal per day. With this initiative, vulnerable individuals will receive an additional meal at the centres, ensuring they have at least two mea ls daily. Makoni stressed that the programme provides immediate relief to at-risk groups, particularly breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.