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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 26719, member: 2262"] Esther Muinjangue, who serves as deputy minister of health and social services, recently presented a government motion requesting an investigation into conflicts between people and wildlife throughout Namibia. Her proposal aims to highlight how human survival connects with animal preservation, emphasizing the urgent need for government action in areas experiencing these problems. The motion addresses yearly incidents occurring where communities live near creatures such as elephants, lions, buffalo, crocodiles, and hippos. Recent drought conditions have forced both humans and animals to compete for limited water and food resources across affected regions. Residents face numerous hardships, including predators killing their livestock, destruction of planted fields, damage to buildings, and sometimes fatal animal attacks on people. Current national policies attempt to reduce these impacts and prevent angry residents from harming wildlife after losing animals or crops. The parliamentary report identifies wildlife as valuable natural resources that could benefit rural populations if managed properly, making effective government solutions essential for these communities. The parliamentary standing committee on natural resources received Muinjangue's motion for consideration. Committee members determined they must conduct meetings across different regions to gather input from affected citizens before submitting their final recommendations to the National Assembly. Citizens living in Katima Mulilo Rural constituency experienced severe crop destruction during 2023 when elephants, buffalo, and hippos consumed their planted fields before harvest time. Many farmers complained that compensation payments of N$250 per hectare remain inadequate and often arrive late. Government records show human-wildlife encounters have increased substantially in recent years. Officials documented 139 conflict cases during 2020, which rose to 201 incidents by 2021. The following year saw 188 reported problems between humans and animals. From January through mid-August 2023 alone, authorities recorded over 180 separate incidents. These statistics demonstrate the growing challenge facing both rural communities and conservation efforts as populations expand and climate conditions change throughout Namibia's diverse ecosystems. [/QUOTE]

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