Southern Africa is facing its worst drought in a century, impacting over 27 million individuals, with 21 million children affected by malnutrition. Numerous countries have declared national disasters due to crop failures and livestock losses, intensified by climate change and the El Niño phenomenon. The situation is expected to worsen until the next harvests, underscoring the need for urgent humanitarian aid.
Southern Africa is currently experiencing an unprecedented drought, heralded as the worst in a century, severely impacting over 27 million individuals. The United Nations has issued a stark warning regarding the humanitarian crisis stemming from this environmental disaster, which has resulted in widespread food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly among children, with 21 million youths reported to be suffering from malnutrition. The drought’s devastating effects have prompted several countries, including Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, to declare national disasters. The agricultural sector, already vulnerable, has been significantly affected as the drought has destroyed crops and livestock. Angola and Mozambique are also feeling the harsh consequences, as articulated in a briefing by the World Food Programme (WFP), which anticipates the situation to exacerbate until the next agricultural harvest is expected in March or April of the following year. Mr. Tomson Phiri, a spokesperson for WFP, stated, “A historic drought – the worst food crisis yet – has devastated more than 27 million lives across the region. Some 21 million children are malnourished.” In addition, he emphasized that October marks the onset of the lean season, where each successive month is predicted to worsen as the community continues to struggle with crop failures and livestock deaths. Many families in this region rely heavily on rain-fed small-scale agriculture for sustenance and economic stability. A significant factor contributing to this predicament has been the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has caused below-average rainfall and heightened temperatures associated with climate change. As of July, a UN official remarked that this drought represented the most extreme to afflict the region in a century, severely affecting agricultural outputs in Zambia and Zimbabwe—reportedly wiping out 70 percent and 80 percent of the harvests, respectively, as indicated by Ms. Lola Castro, acting regional director for southern Africa at WFP. Moreover, the drought has severely reduced hydropower capacity, leading to electricity shortages, while wildlife culling has been sanctioned in Namibia and Zimbabwe as a desperate measure to provide food for the starving population. The vulnerability of sub-Saharan Africa to climate change is underscored by its dependence on rain-fed agriculture, compounded by socioeconomic limitations that hinder investments in climate resilience. Experts have raised concerns about how climate-driven irregular weather patterns are adversely affecting crop yields and overall food quality in the region.
The ongoing drought in Southern Africa is attributed to a combination of climatic factors, including the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has brought about exceedingly low rainfall levels across the region. Rising temperatures due to climate change further exacerbate this issue, leading to significant agricultural losses and infrastructure challenges. The economic dependency of Southern African nations on agriculture makes them particularly susceptible to these climatic events, with many communities reliant on consistent rainfall for their livelihoods.
The drought affecting Southern Africa is an urgent humanitarian crisis, compelling millions into food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly among children. The situation is worsened by climate change implications and environmental developments, necessitating immediate international attention and assistance to mitigate the devastating impacts on vulnerable populations.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
