In May 2024, Von Bach Dam, the capital's primary reservoir, fell to just 11% capacity. The government declared a national state of emergency.
The cold Benguela Current chills the coastal air, suppressing rainfall. Namibia receives only about 285 mm of rain a year, the driest country south of the Sahara.
Of all the rain that falls, only about 2% becomes river runoff. Roughly 83% evaporates straight back into the air.
Namibia's worst drought in a century struck all 14 regions at once, an unprecedented nationwide crisis. Around 1.2 million people (40% of those assessed) faced acute food insecurity.
To relieve pressure on dwindling pasture and water, the government authorised culling 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants. Water rationing was introduced in Windhoek.
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