DOC/OS(XXXIII)/324c/I 26 In some establishments, prisoners complained about the quantity and quality of the food they received. Thus, the women prisoners in Windhoek complained of receiving only two meals per day, those in Oluno prison and in Hardap Prison complained of going hungry. At Windhoek prison, a one-year-old baby detained with the mother was only given porridge to eat. Another one-year-old baby whose mother was detained in Walvis Bay prison did not receive any appropriate food. The women would like to prepare their own food. The men informed the delegation that their food was sometimes undercooked, and that they were only given two meals a day and vegetables only once a month. The prisoners at Walvis Bay mentioned running out of stock sometimes and that sometimes porridge was the only food they were given for a period of one month. All the prisoners met by the delegation complained that the porridge was too liquid and sometimes contained sand, small stones and dirt (which was confirmed by the delegation). Foreign prisoners also complained that they were unable to adapt to the diet consequently they suffered and lost weight (Windhoek and Walvis Bay prisons). The prisoners at the E. Nepemba centre complained that the food was not always kept in good conditions and that the cooking utensils were usually dirty. Prisoners in Hardap prison mentioned that the utensils in which the food was served were worn out and dirty, as they were only rinsed out with water. They informed the Special Rapporteur that in order to obtain more food, tobacco or even drugs, some prisoners, including some minors, were driven to prostitution. It should be noted that the ombudsman's office is dealing with a number of cases of problems relating to food and has started an enquiry. In the police stations, food is generally supplied by the administration, cooked by employees and the menus are prepared by a nutritionist. It consists of bread, coffee, porridge, sauce, occasionally some meat or fish are served (once a week in Omaruru, sometimes in Mariental). Prisoners are supposed to have three meals per day and are allowed to receive food from outside the prison as long as the food may be searched or is uncooked. Some prisoners complained of not receiving food for a whole day (this takes place in Rundu roughly once every two months) or an insufficient quantity of it, not being allowed to receive any from outside prison. Prisoners at Rundu police station complained that they were no longer allowed to receive food or visits from their families over the last five months, although the food rations supplied by the police authorities were highly insufficient and inadequate. Furthermore, they mentioned that the pots used for cooking and serving the meals were so worn out that they leaked or were unusable. It should be noted that sometimes the state of food containers is caused by the way they are handled by prisoners. At Mariental, prisoners use them to hammer on metal doors. The inmates at Walvis Bay police station explained that the only food allowed from outside the prison was whatever the officers were willing to buy if paid to do so. Several inmates complained that some officers kept the money and did not buy the food requested, others complained that the officers helped themselves to the food brought by their families (Grootfontein). Some prisoners in Omaruru police station complained of not receiving adequate food when sick. The prisoners in Grootfontein police station mentioned only being given meat on the days visitors were expected. They had received some on the day of the Special Rapporteur's visit, but it was the first time in three months. A woman detainee in the same station complained about not having any money and not being able to telephone her family to ask for help in order to buy special food for her baby who was in custody with her. The delegation was told that in Mariental meals are badly cooked and insufficient and that sometimes prisoners find dead cockroaches in their food.