Nearly 68 million people in Southern Africa are grappling with the devastating effects of an El Nino-induced drought that has ravaged crops and disrupted livelihoods, according to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Saturday.
The drought, which began in early 2024, has severely impacted agricultural production across the region, leading to widespread food shortages and inflicting damage on the broader economies of affected nations.
As heads of state from the 16-member SADC gathered in Harare, Zimbabwe, to address regional issues, food security emerged as a critical topic of discussion. Elias Magosi, SADC’s executive secretary, underscored the magnitude of the crisis.
“The 2024 rainy season has been extremely difficult, with much of the region experiencing the harsh impacts of the El Nino phenomenon, which brought delayed and insufficient rains,” Magosi said.
The drought, driven by a combination of the naturally occurring El Nino event and exacerbated by rising global temperatures from greenhouse gas emissions, is being described as one of Southern Africa’s worst in years.
Countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi have declared states of disaster due to the hunger crisis, while Lesotho and Namibia have also called for humanitarian aid.
In response to the escalating crisis, the region made a $5.5 billion humanitarian aid appeal in May to fund drought relief efforts. However, donations have been slow to materialize, according to outgoing SADC chair Joao Lourenco, who serves as President of Angola.
“The funds collected so far remain far below the necessary amount,” Lourenco said, urging both regional and international partners to intensify their efforts to provide assistance to those affected by the drought.
Alongside the drought, the summit is also focusing on other pressing regional matters, including the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which Lourenco noted as another significant concern for the bloc.
