The worst drought in a century is currently devastating Southern Africa, impacting over 27 million individuals, with 21 million children facing malnutrition. Countries like Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have declared national disasters as crops and livestock have perished due to this historic drought. With expectations of worsening conditions until the next harvest in March or April, tens of millions face grave hunger, exacerbated by climate change.
The ongoing drought in Southern Africa has resulted in the worst humanitarian situation in over a century, affecting more than 27 million individuals, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). This calamity has left millions hungry, with 21 million children facing malnutrition. Countries such as Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have been compelled to declare national disaster states amid the calamity, which has devastated both crop yields and livestock populations. The drought’s effects are evident in Angola and Mozambique as well, with dire warnings that the situation is likely to worsen until the next harvests are due in March or April of the following year. “A historic drought – the worst food crisis yet – has devastated more than 27 million lives across the region,” stated WFP spokesman Tomson Phiri. He emphasized that as October marks the onset of the lean season in Southern Africa, the situation is anticipated to deteriorate month by month until the upcoming harvests. Reports indicate that agricultural failures have left tens of millions depending on rain-fed farming with minimal resources, as conditions have been worsened by the El Niño phenomenon leading to reduced rainfall combined with mounting climate change challenges. By mid-2023, the drought had led to the loss of approximately 70 percent of the harvest in Zambia and up to 80 percent in Zimbabwe, according to Lola Castro, the WFP’s acting regional director. Compounding these challenges is the reduction in hydropower supply due to prolonged drought conditions, causing significant electricity shortages and prompting Namibia and Zimbabwe to initiate wildlife culls to alleviate resource pressures. Scientists have underscored that sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to its reliance on rain-fed agriculture, a dependency that many impoverished nations lack the funding to mitigate against climatic adversities. Furthermore, experts warn that irregular rain patterns induced by climate change severely affect agricultural productivity, leading to adverse effects on crop yields, growth cycles, flavors, and harvesting times.
Southern Africa is currently facing one of the most severe droughts in recorded history, attributed primarily to climatic changes and the El Niño weather phenomenon. This region is highly dependent on rain-fed agriculture, which significantly influences both food security and economic stability. Many individuals rely on small-scale irrigation agriculture, making them particularly vulnerable to climatic extremes. Furthermore, the escalating impacts of climate change exacerbate vulnerabilities in food production, economic reliability, and overall livelihoods throughout the region. Access to resources is further hindered as nations struggle to implement effective climate resilience programs due to limited financial capabilities.
In summary, the relentless drought impacting Southern Africa has precipitated an acute humanitarian crisis, severely affecting millions, particularly children. The intersection of climate change with traditional agricultural practices has culminated in unprecedented food shortages and resource scarcity. It is imperative that regional and international stakeholders collaborate to implement immediate and sustainable measures to mitigate this crisis and develop long-term solutions to enhance climate resilience in vulnerable areas.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
