The United Nations (UN) and its partners have issued an urgent call to save millions of lives in southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, which is affected by a severe drought. The region is currently experiencing the worst drought in decades, driven by the El Niño phenomenon.
During a briefing in Pretoria, South Africa, the UN, non-governmental organizations, regional and national authorities, and humanitarian and development partners highlighted the dire impacts of El Niño. They warned that millions could face acute hunger without immediate support.
The Southern African Development Community recently launched a regional appeal, seeking $5.5 billion for urgent assistance. “Rural communities we have met on the ground tell us they have never seen anything like this. They are extremely worried about their future,” said Reena Ghelani, the UN climate crisis coordinator for the El Niño/La Niña Response. “Urgent support is needed now, and at scale, to protect lives and livelihoods.”
The El Niño phenomenon has caused a severe rainfall deficit across southern Africa. The region experienced its driest February in 100 years, receiving only 20% of the usual rainfall.
Etleva Kadilli, regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa at the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), stated, “The climate crisis is a disaster for children in the region. Drought and floods also have a ripple effect on access to education, leaving children vulnerable to child labor and child marriages.” Kadilli emphasized the need for sustained and flexible support from donors, including innovative financing in climate prevention and preparedness.
In a related development, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) warned that many Zimbabwean households face constrained access to income due to the drought. According to USAID’s Famine Early Warning Systems Network, high food prices and limited purchasing power are widespread. The poor harvests have negatively impacted household access to agricultural labor and income from crop sales.
“Most poor households are expected to remain reliant on off-own-farm income and try to expand and intensify their engagement in different livelihood and coping strategies to meet their food needs. However, increased competition and limited demand will likely limit earnings and household purchasing capacity,” the report stated.
The early start of the 2024/25 lean season is expected to deepen the erosion of livelihood assets as households seek income for food purchases. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appealed for $3.3 million after declaring the El Niño-induced drought a national disaster. The UN is mobilizing $429.3 million for humanitarian assistance during this period.
“The prices of staple cereals remain high and have not reduced as typical during the harvest or immediate post-harvest period. Instead, prices remain atypically high and continue to increase in some areas,” the report noted.
Last month, the government announced it would distribute cash to more than 60% of urban households identified as food insecure by the recently concluded 2024 ZimLAC Urban Livelihoods and Nutrition Assessments.
The urgency of the situation calls for immediate international support to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. The combined efforts of the UN, regional bodies, and global donors are crucial to mitigating the impacts of the drought and ensuring the survival and well-being of millions in southern Africa.
Source: Newsday
