2024-08-19 23:10:44
About 68 million people in Southern Africa are suffering from the effects of drought caused by El Niño and climate change, which has destroyed crops across the region.
The drought, which began in early 2024, hit agricultural and livestock production, causing food shortages and damaging economies in general.
Read more here: El Niño-induced drought could force Zambia to increase electricity tariffs by up to 156%
Heads of state from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) of 16 nations were meeting in the Zimbabwean capital Harare to discuss regional issues including food security.
About 68 million people, or 17% of the region’s population, need assistance, said Elias Magosi, SADC executive secretary.
The 2024 rainy season was challenging, with most of the region suffering from the negative effects of the El Niño phenomenon, which is characterized by the cessation of rain.
This is the worst drought in Southern Africa for years, due to a combination of the natural phenomenon El Niño — when abnormal warming of waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean changes 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 disaster, while Lesotho and Namibia have asked for humanitarian support.
The region launched an appeal in May for US$5.5 billion in humanitarian aid to support the drought response, but donations have not been received, outgoing SADC president João Lourenço, the president of Angola, said.
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