Southern Africa is facing its worst drought in a century, with over 27 million people affected, including 21 million children suffering from malnutrition. Countries such as Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have declared national disasters as crop and livestock losses mount, exacerbated by climate change and the El Niño phenomenon. The crisis is expected to worsen until the next harvest season.
Southern Africa is currently besieged by the most severe drought observed in a century, affecting over 27 million individuals, according to reports from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The drought has led to significant food shortages, with an alarming 21 million children experiencing malnutrition. Countries including Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have proclaimed a national disaster as the drought continues to devastate agriculture and livestock populations. Angola and Mozambique are also grappling with the repercussions of this crisis, with expectations that conditions will worsen until the next harvest season, anticipated in March or April of the following year. As articulated by WFP spokesperson Tomson Phiri, “A historic drought – the worst food crisis yet – has devastated more than 27 million lives across the region.” He highlighted that the onset of the lean season in October signifies an escalation in humanitarian challenges, emphasizing that each subsequent month is likely to present greater difficulties. The drought has led to crop failures and livestock losses, severely impacting food availability, with many children struggling to secure even a single meal daily. The extensive reliance of tens of millions on small-scale, rain-fed agriculture for sustenance and income exacerbates the situation. Aid agencies had warned of impending crises as the El Niño weather phenomenon contributed to below-average rainfall exacerbated by climate change-induced temperature rises. According to Lola Castro, acting regional director for southern Africa at WFP, the drought has led to unprecedented losses, destroying approximately 70 percent of Zambia’s and 80 percent of Zimbabwe’s harvests. The drastic reduction in rainfall has also diminished hydropower generation capabilities, resulting in significant power outages. In response to the acute resource scarcity, authorities in Namibia and Zimbabwe have resorted to culling wildlife to provide food for the desperate population, including notable actions such as killing elephants. Research indicates that sub-Saharan Africa is among the regions most vulnerable to climate change due to its heavy reliance on rain-dependent agriculture and natural resources. The disproportionate effects of climate change render millions of livelihoods precarious, particularly in nations that lack the financial means to enact climate-resilient strategies. Experts have further noted that droughts exacerbated by climate change adversely affect crop yield, development, taste, and harvesting periods, with far-reaching implications for food security in the region.
The extreme drought in Southern Africa stems from a combination of climatic factors, notably the El Niño phenomenon and climate change, which has contributed to irregular rainfall patterns and rising temperatures. This climatic instability significantly hampers agricultural productivity, impacting millions who rely on rain-fed farming for their sustenance and income, thereby heightening the vulnerability of the region. Such environmental challenges have necessitated a declaration of national disasters in several affected nations, reflecting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and interventions to mitigate the crisis. The continuation of these unfavorable conditions poses substantial risks for current and future harvests, leading to increased hunger and malnutrition across Southern Africa.
In summary, Southern Africa is experiencing a humanitarian crisis of historical proportions due to the worst drought in a century, which has left over 27 million people vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition. The declared national disasters and crop failures highlight the urgent need for intervention as the region braced for additional challenges leading up to the next harvest. The investment in climate-resilient agricultural practices and emergency aid is critically required to alleviate suffering and stabilize livelihoods, particularly as climatic changes continue to threaten food security in the region.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
