Namibia has called for an immediate end to illegal sand and gravel mining, warning that unregulated extraction is leading to severe environmental damage and posing risks to human life, wildlife, and food security across the country.

• Illegal mining operations have increased and are often conducted without required Environmental Clearance Certificates.
• ong>Indileni Daniel, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, emphasized that all mining activities must undergo environmental impact assessments and secure approval from the environmental commissioner.
• The consequences include land degradation, riverbank erosion, destruction of wetlands, and dangerous open pits, particularly threatening to children, livestock, and wildlife during the rainy season.