The El Niño-induced drought in Southern Africa has resulted in severe food insecurity, affecting nearly 23 million people across several countries, including Angola, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. With over two million children projected to suffer malnutrition, the crisis is compounded by ongoing health epidemics and significant displacement, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and comprehensive response strategies.
The 2023/2024 El Niño event has triggered an unprecedented drought across Southern Africa, leading to an alarming humanitarian crisis in countries including Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This drought, noted as the most severe in 40 years, is compounded by climatic irregularities, marked by late rain onset and extensive periods of dry weather coupled with extreme temperatures. As a result, agro-economic conditions have severely deteriorated, causing a significant reduction in maize harvests, as reported by national governments and FEWS NET. Communities are grappling with profound food insecurity, with nearly 23 million individuals affected, particularly in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. It is estimated that between 14.0 and 14.9 million people will require urgent humanitarian assistance throughout the lean season from October to December 2024. The situation has led to national drought disasters declared in six southern African countries, with Angola suffering approximately 1.8 million affected and Mozambique facing a staggering 3.3 million food-insecure individuals. Alarmingly, over two million children are anticipated to experience acute malnutrition during this period, with over 500,000 in dire circumstances of severe malnutrition. Moreover, the drought has triggered significant disruptions, including the displacement of thousands of individuals, the emergence of diseases, food shortages, and a critical scarcity of clean water. These adversities are occurring alongside existing health crises, including a cholera epidemic, which although stabilized, remains a threat exacerbated by water shortages affecting sanitation practices. Furthermore, the risk of cholera outbreaks continues to loom, particularly in Malawi and Mozambique. The compounded challenges posed by this drought have broader implications, increasing the vulnerability to diseases such as HIV/AIDS, further exacerbating mental health issues, and potentially enhancing incidents of gender-based violence. This situation underscores the imperative for heightened readiness and response strategies, particularly in light of the existing pressures from El Niño, epidemic outbreaks, regional conflicts, and climate change which have collectively strained health systems and impeded access to critical sexual and reproductive health services. In the context of these crises, over a million individuals have been internally displaced, primarily in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Addressing the multifaceted impact of the ongoing drought and associated health challenges is paramount to ensuring the preservation of life and stability in the region.
The Southern Africa region currently faces one of the most severe droughts in four decades, driven by the El Niño phenomenon. This climatic event has precipitated late rain onset and extended periods without rain, impairing agricultural production and food security. The compounded effects of drought, existing health crises like cholera, and socio-economic challenges further exacerbate the conditions. The drought’s effects have been acute, leading to food shortages and displacing vulnerable populations, warranting urgent humanitarian assistance.
In summary, the current drought in Southern Africa, influenced by the El Niño event, has created a severe situation of food insecurity, health hazards, and displacement. With millions in need of urgent assistance, this crisis necessitates coordinated action and support to mitigate the impact on affected populations, address the health challenges, and restore stability to the region.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
