Southern Africa is facing a severe food insecurity crisis affecting an estimated 60 million people, according to the United Nations. The situation has been exacerbated by a drought induced by El Nino, impacting countries beyond Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, which have already issued international appeals for aid.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization highlighted that Angola, eSwatini, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Tanzania are also feeling the dire effects of the drought in southern Africa.
Plaxedes Madzikatire, residing approximately 100 kilometers south of Harare, is among the millions struggling to survive amidst the drought’s devastation. She relies on a $65 monthly assistance from the World Food Program (WFP) to support her four children after her crops failed.
Out of this aid, $25 is allocated for food, $20 for school fees, and the remaining $20 is invested in her business of crafting and selling hoes and axes made from scrap metal. Madzikatire hopes the WFP can extend their support beyond next month when assistance in her area is set to conclude.
The WFP’s Executive Director, Cindy McCain, described the situation during her recent visit to the drought-affected region from Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, as a humanitarian disaster. She emphasized the critical need for sustained assistance, highlighting that many communities have lost their entire means of livelihood due to the drought’s impact on their crops.
McCain stressed the importance of investing in advanced weather forecasting and promoting drought-resistant crops and efficient water management practices to mitigate future crises exacerbated by climate change.
Regional leaders have appealed for $5.5 billion at a virtual summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state and government, underscoring the urgent need for international support to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Looking ahead, the FAO warns that as El Nino weakens, the region should prepare for the challenges posed by the impending La Nina weather phenomenon, which typically brings heavy rainfall and flooding. This could lead to further crop damage and displacement of populations already vulnerable from the drought.
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