Southern Africa is experiencing its worst drought in a century, affecting over 27 million individuals and leading to severe malnutrition among 21 million children. Governments in the region have declared national disasters due to significant agricultural losses, and conditions are expected to worsen until the next harvests in March-April of the following year. The crisis is intensified by climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, causing catastrophic impacts on food security and livelihoods.
Across Southern Africa, a devastating drought, deemed the worst in a century, has severely impacted over 27 million individuals, with an alarming 21 million children suffering from malnutrition. The United Nations has raised serious concerns about a potential humanitarian catastrophe as governments in Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have all declared national disasters in response to the dire situation. Angola and Mozambique are also grappling with significant effects from this ongoing crisis. The World Food Programme (WFP) has indicated that the region is expected to face worsening conditions until the next anticipated harvests in March or April of the following year. WFP spokesperson Mr. Tomson Phiri remarked, “A historic drought – the worst food crisis yet – has devastated more than 27 million lives across the region.” As October marks the beginning of the lean season in Southern Africa, the situation is expected to deteriorate monthly until the upcoming harvests. The drought has led to widespread crop failure and livestock losses, with many children fortunate to receive even a single meal each day. The livelihoods of tens of millions are at stake, heavily relying on small-scale agriculture dependent on rainfall for sustenance and income. The crisis has been exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon, resulting in below-average rainfall and rising temperatures, both associated with climate change. In July, a UN representative declared this the most severe drought in a century, reporting catastrophic losses of harvests—specifically, a 70% decrease in Zambia and 80% in Zimbabwe, according to WFP’s acting regional director for southern Africa, Ms. Lola Castro. The lack of sufficient rainfall has significantly diminished hydropower capacity, resulting in substantial electricity shortages throughout the region. In response to the resource scarcity, authorities in Namibia and Zimbabwe have had to resort to culling wildlife, including elephants, to provide meat to those in need. Experts have warned that sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, given its reliance on rain-fed agriculture. Consequently, millions depend upon a climate that is increasingly unstable, while many impoverished nations lack the funds necessary to implement climate-resilient strategies. Furthermore, climate-induced irregularities in rainfall patterns have been shown to adversely affect crop yield, development, flavor, and harvesting timelines.
The current drought facing Southern Africa is unprecedented and has surfaced as a critical issue affecting millions of people. The severity of the drought is highlighted by the declarations of national disasters by multiple countries, signifying the urgency and scale of this crisis. The combination of natural phenomena such as El Niño and the long-term effects of climate change have resulted in substantial agricultural devastation, exacerbating food insecurity in an already vulnerable region. These conditions necessitate urgent humanitarian action to mitigate the impacts on food supply and livelihoods.
In closing, the situation in Southern Africa presents a grave humanitarian crisis fueled by the worst drought in a century, affecting over 27 million people, with millions more facing the threat of starvation. The destructive consequences of climate change and erratic weather patterns have amplified the vulnerabilities of the region, particularly impacting agriculture and food security. Urgent interventions and support are necessary to address the immediate needs while also fostering long-term resilience against such climate-induced crises.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
