The U.N. World Food Program is collaborating with Zimbabwe’s government and aid agencies to address the severe food shortage affecting 2.7 million rural inhabitants. This crisis is exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon, leading to poor harvests in drought-stricken regions heavily dependent on small-scale farming.
Francesca Erdelmann, WFP country director for Zimbabwe, warns that El Nino is expected to cause below-average rainfall this year, intensifying the existing challenges. The phenomenon, a natural weather occurrence warming parts of the Pacific, influences global weather patterns with varying impacts across regions.
The consequences are particularly dire when rains fail or arrive late, as highlighted by Erdelmann during a news conference. January to March marks the lean season in Zimbabwe, with rural households depleting food supplies while awaiting the next harvest.
Over 60% of Zimbabwe’s 15 million people reside in rural areas, where their lives are increasingly disrupted by a cycle of droughts and floods exacerbated by climate change. The dry spells are extending in duration and severity, disrupting traditional seasonal patterns.
Historically a food exporter, Zimbabwe has become reliant on donor assistance due to a combination of factors, including the tumultuous land reforms initiated in 2000 and the changing climate. The rainy season, once consistent from October to March, has become erratic, impacting agricultural production.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) estimates that 20 million people in southern Africa will require food relief between January and March. Particularly vulnerable areas, such as Zimbabwe, southern Malawi, parts of Mozambique, and southern Madagascar, face the prospect of insufficient food supplies until early 2025 due to El Nino.
To address the crisis, USAID has provided WFP with a $11 million donation. Although Zimbabwe’s government claims to have grain reserves until October, it acknowledges the urgent need for assistance, especially for those unable to harvest enough or purchase food from markets.
Staple food prices are soaring across the region, further challenging people’s ability to sustain themselves. Zimbabwe is already experiencing the broader impacts of El Nino, with 100 elephants succumbing to the effects of the drought in a wildlife park last year.
