Months of drought in southern Africa, driven by the El Niño weather phenomenon, have severely impacted over 27 million people, leading to the region's worst hunger crisis in decades, according to the United Nations' food agency.
The World Food Program has warned that the situation could escalate into a “full-scale human catastrophe.” Five countries—Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—have declared national disasters due to the drought and resulting hunger. The WFP estimates that around 21 million children in southern Africa are currently malnourished as crop failures continue.
Millions in the region rely on small-scale agriculture, which depends on rain for sustenance and income. Aid agencies had raised alarms late last year as El Niño caused below-average rainfall, a situation worsened by rising temperatures linked to climate change.
“This is the worst food crisis in decades,” said WFP spokesperson Tomson Phiri. “October marks the beginning of the lean season in southern Africa, and conditions are expected to deteriorate each month until the harvest next March and April. Crop failures and livestock losses have left many families struggling, with children fortunate to receive one meal per day.”
The countries facing drought-related disasters have urgently requested international assistance. Angola and Mozambique are also experiencing severe impacts, highlighting the extensive reach of the drought across the region.
“The situation is dire,” Phiri noted, stating that the WFP requires approximately $369 million for immediate aid but has received only a fraction of that amount amid a donation shortfall. The WFP has begun providing food assistance and critical support at the request of various regional governments.
Phiri emphasized that this crisis occurs amidst “soaring global needs,” with humanitarian aid also urgently needed in regions like Gaza and Sudan.
Other aid organizations have described the drought in southern Africa as particularly severe. The U.S. Agency for International Development indicated that this drought is the worst in a century, devastating crops and food supplies for millions.
El Niño, a weather phenomenon that warms parts of the central Pacific, has varied effects on global weather patterns. The latest occurrence began in mid-2023 and ended in June, contributing to extreme weather conditions, including heatwaves.
In southern Africa, food prices have surged in drought-affected areas, compounding the hardships faced by residents. The drought has also caused significant electricity shortages in Zambia, which relies on hydroelectric power from the Kariba Dam, now at critically low water levels. Zimbabwe, which shares the dam, is similarly affected by power outages.
In response to the dire circumstances, authorities in Namibia and Zimbabwe have begun culling wildlife, including elephants, to provide meat for the hungry.
Experts warn that sub-Saharan Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its reliance on rain-fed agriculture and natural resources. Millions of livelihoods are at risk as poor nations struggle to fund necessary climate resilience measures.
