It is the worst drought in southern Africa in years, due to a combination of the naturally occurring El Nino and higher average temperatures produced by greenhouse gas emissions.
Around 68 million people in southern Africa are suffering the effects of a drought induced by the El Niño phenomenon, which has decimated crops across the region, the regional bloc SADC said on Saturday.
The drought, which began in early 2024, has affected crop and livestock production, causing food shortages and damaging economies in general.
The heads of state of the 16-country Southern African Development Community (SADC) met in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, to discuss regional issues, including food security.
Around 68 million people, or 17 per cent of the region’s population, need help, said Elias Magosi, SADC’s executive secretary.
‘The 2024 rainy season has been a challenge, with most of the region suffering the negative effects of the El Nino phenomenon, characterised by the late onset of the rains,’ he said.
It is southern Africa’s worst drought in years, due to a combination of naturally occurring El Nino – when an abnormal warming of the waters in the eastern Pacific alters global weather patterns – and higher average temperatures produced by greenhouse gas emissions.
Countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi have already declared the hunger crisis a state of disaster, while Lesotho and Namibia have called for humanitarian support.
In May, the region launched an appeal for 5.5 billion dollars in humanitarian assistance to support the response to the drought, but donations have not been forthcoming, said outgoing SADC chairman João Lourenço, president of Angola.
‘The amount mobilised so far is unfortunately below the estimated figures and I would like to reiterate this appeal to regional and international partners to redouble their efforts… to help our people who have been affected by El Nino,’ he said at the summit.
Drought is one of the main points of discussion at this year’s summit, along with issues such as the ongoing conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which Lourenço said was a source of great concern.
VOA Português
