El Nino impact leaves Malawi and region on the edge of a hunger crisis
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El Nino impact leaves Malawi and region on the edge of a hunger crisis
Subject: IR
Section: Places in news
Context:
- Malawi has declared a state of disaster due to severe drought conditions affecting 23 of its 28 districts. The country’s President has announced an urgent need for over $200 million in humanitarian assistance to address the crisis.
Regional Impact:
- This announcement follows a similar appeal from Zambia, and Zimbabwe is also considering declaring a drought disaster.
- These developments come amid warnings from the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) about a potential hunger crisis in southern Africa, driven by the El Niño weather phenomenon and one of the driest spells in decades.
- Nearly 50 million people in southern and parts of central Africa are facing food insecurity, exacerbated by significant rainfall deficits in countries like Malawi, Mozambique, and parts of Angola.
- Both Malawi and Zambia are currently experiencing major cholera outbreaks, underscoring the health challenges compounded by the drought crisis.
- The Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritria, Djibouti and Somalia) is currently facing the worst drought in 40 years after five seasons of poor rainfall.
El Niño and Climate Change:
- El Niño, a natural weather pattern causing below-average rainfall in southern Africa, is believed to be intensified by climate change, resulting in more extreme impacts. The 2015-2016 El Niño led to the region’s worst drought in 35 years.
Region of Africa facing severe droughts:
Source: TH