Drought Crisis Grips Southern Africa: 68 Million in Need of Aid
A devastating drought, triggered by El Niño weather patterns, has gripped Southern Africa since early 2024, leaving approximately 68 million residents in dire need of assistance. This figure, representing 17% of the region’s population, was revealed by Elias Magosi, Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), during a crucial summit in Zimbabwe‘s capital, Harare.
The 16-nation SADC bloc convened to tackle pressing regional issues, with food security topping the agenda. The drought has wreaked havoc on agricultural production, decimating crops and livestock, thereby intensifying food scarcity and undermining economic stability across the region.
Magosi highlighted the challenges of the 2024 rainy season, noting that much of Southern Africa experienced the detrimental effects of El Niño, characterized by delayed rainfall. This drought, considered the most severe in recent memory, results from a combination of the El Niño phenomenon – an abnormal warming of eastern Pacific waters that alters global weather patterns – and elevated average temperatures attributed to greenhouse gas emissions.
Several nations, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, have already declared states of disaster due to the hunger crisis. Lesotho and Namibia have also appealed for humanitarian aid to address the situation.
In May, the region launched a plea for $5.5 billion in humanitarian support to combat the drought’s impact. However, outgoing SADC chair and Angolan President Joao Lourenco expressed disappointment over the insufficient response to this appeal. He urged regional and international partners to intensify their efforts in assisting affected populations.
While the drought dominated discussions, the summit also addressed other critical issues. Notably, the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was highlighted as a significant concern for the region.
This unprecedented crisis underscores the urgent need for coordinated action and international support to mitigate the far-reaching effects of climate-induced disasters in Southern Africa.
