The 2023/2024 El Niño event has triggered severe drought conditions across Southern Africa, impacting millions with food insecurity, water shortages, and health crises. Projections estimate up to 14.9 million individuals will require urgent humanitarian assistance during the forthcoming lean season. Many regions are experiencing acute malnutrition and the compounded effects of ongoing epidemics such as cholera. Immediate response strategies are crucial to address these intersecting crises effectively.
The 2023/2024 El Niño phenomenon has precipitated a grave drought across Southern Africa, marked by a delayed onset of rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and exceptionally high temperatures. This event constitutes the most severe El Niño experienced by the region in the past four decades and has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities among communities already suffering from failed agricultural yields and adverse microeconomic conditions. A large swath of the population in the region is now confronting dire food shortages, as historical data reveal significantly reduced maize harvests when compared to five-year averages, based on assessments from national governments and FEWS NET. An estimated 23 million individuals are currently experiencing heightened food insecurity, particularly in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Projections indicate that between 14.0 and 14.9 million people will urgently need humanitarian assistance during the critical lean season from October to December 2024. Furthermore, national drought disasters have been declared in six countries within the region, specifically Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with Angola and Mozambique also facing severe impacts that leave approximately 1.8 million people in Angola and 3.3 million in Mozambique without adequate food resources. In 2024 alone, over 2 million children are anticipated to be acutely malnourished, with more than 500,000 likely suffering from severe wasting conditions. The compounded impact of these harsh weather conditions has resulted in the displacement of thousands, significant disease outbreaks, acute food shortages, and a lack of access to clean water, fundamentally disrupting agricultural practices. Unlike prior times, this drought has coincided with one of the worst cholera epidemics in recent memory. Although the situation has somewhat stabilized, persistent water shortages continue to threaten sanitation and hygiene efforts, maintaining the risk of cholera outbreaks particularly in nations such as Malawi and Mozambique. Moreover, the challenges emanating from the drought may heighten risks associated with the transmission of HIV and AIDS, escalate mental health concerns, and exacerbate gender-based violence. These factors emphasize the pressing necessity for improved preparedness and response initiatives. The interaction of the El Niño event with cholera outbreaks, ongoing conflicts, and the overarching effects of climate change have severely burdened health systems throughout Southern Africa, thereby obstructing access to essential sexual and reproductive health services. Consequently, over one million individuals have been internally displaced as a result of disasters and climate change, primarily originating from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
The article addresses the catastrophic effects of the 2023/2024 El Niño event on Southern Africa, particularly focusing on the severe drought conditions that have emerged. Factors contributing to the situation include climate variability leading to changed weather patterns, exacerbation of pre-existing vulnerabilities in communities reliant on agriculture, and the interplay of concurrent health crises such as cholera. Understanding the scale and scope of food insecurity, health risks, and humanitarian needs emerging from this crisis sets the stage for analyzing the complexities and challenges facing affected nations.
In summary, the ongoing El Niño event has led to an unprecedented drought in Southern Africa, affecting millions of individuals and further entrenching food insecurity and health risks in the region. As communities grapple with the immediate consequences of this natural disaster, heightened vigilance is required to mitigate the multifaceted impacts on health, safety, and agricultural viability. The collective response must prioritize immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term strategies to bolster resilience against future climate-related threats.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
