Southern Africa is enduring its worst El Niño-induced drought in 40 years, resulting in severe food shortages and widespread humanitarian needs. As of now, nearly 23 million individuals are facing food insecurity, with particular crises noted in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. The drought has also exacerbated health risks, with significant malnutrition cases among children and ongoing disease outbreaks, highlighting urgent needs for humanitarian assistance and response measures.
The southern African region is facing an unprecedented crisis due to the 2023/2024 El Niño event, recognized as the most severe in the past four decades. This situation has exacerbated existing challenges such as failed crops and economic instability, leading to widespread drought conditions. The effects of this drought are severe, manifesting as food shortages, limited access to clean water, disease outbreaks, and significant livestock losses. Notably, maize yields have dropped to well below average compared to five-year historical data, prompting dire food security concerns among communities. Currently, nearly 23 million individuals within southern Africa are grappling with high food insecurity levels, with particular emphasis on the most affected nations including Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Between 14.0 to 14.9 million of those people are poised to require urgent humanitarian assistance throughout the lean season, particularly from October to December 2024. Drought disasters have officially been declared in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with oppressive conditions also impacting Angola and Mozambique, where approximately 1.8 million and 3.3 million people are experiencing food insecurity, respectively. The crisis has precipitated acute malnutrition in over 2 million children, with more than 500,000 cases classified as severe. The resultant adverse conditions have led to the displacement of countless individuals, as well as an uptick in disease outbreaks, food scarcity, and significant agricultural damage. This drought coincides with one of the most extensive cholera outbreaks in decades, although the situatie has shown some stabilization. However, ongoing water shortages hinder hygiene and sanitation measures, prolonging the risk of cholera resurgence, especially in Malawi and Mozambique. Furthermore, the drought’s implications extend beyond immediate health risks; it may also heighten transmission rates of HIV and AIDS, exacerbate mental health issues, and increase incidents of gender-based violence. These emerging challenges highlight the critical necessity for improved preparation and response. The compounded effects of El Niño, cholera outbreaks, regional conflicts, and climate change have severely strained health systems throughout southern Africa, obstructing access to critical and potentially lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services. Amidst these ongoing crises, over one million individuals have been displaced primarily from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe due to disasters and climate change-related factors.
In recent years, southern Africa has faced increasing climatic challenges, with El Niño phenomena significantly impacting weather patterns and agricultural productivity. The prolonged drought conditions, worsened by failed crops and economic instability, pose a critical challenge to food security, health, and overall community resilience. Understanding the extent of the El Niño impact and the resulting humanitarian crises is essential to addressing the needs of the affected populations, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and internally displaced persons.
In summary, the 2023/2024 El Niño event represents a significant crisis for southern Africa, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and leading to widespread drought conditions. The resulting food insecurity, health risks, and displacement highlight the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian responses and enhanced preparedness measures across the region. Continued monitoring and immediate assistance are essential to mitigate the crisis’s fallout, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
