Extreme drought in southern Africa triggers hunger crisis for millions
Southern Africa is on the brink of a hunger crisis after an historic drought decimated crops during the peak October to March farming season – one year after the region was pummelled by tropical storms.
Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe declared national disasters within weeks of each other after insufficient rains wiped out crops including the staple maize harvest.
The severe dry spell – exacerbated by the El Nino weather pattern that triggers higher global temperatures – has reached Botswana and Angola to the west, and Mozambique and Madagascar to the east.
The World Food Programme (WFP) said that some areas had suffered their driest February in 40 years.
As many as 50 million people are facing food insecurity.
Authorities in Zambia have ordered the army to support food production, with 84 of the country’s 116 districts stricken by a drought that has also wrought havoc on electricity supplies.
Zambia is highly reliant on hydroelectric power.
Harvest write-off
Almost three-quarters of Zambia has gone without any rain since January, said Chris Mzembé of the Lusaka branch of the NGO Care International.
In places where it has rained, the water came in violent storms that destroyed crops, Mzembé told RFI – adding that many maize farmers, especially the smallest, lost everything.
Like in Zimbabwe, maize production drives the country’s agricultural sector and is at the heart of the local diet.
Read more on RFI English
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