Hunger grips southern Africa as Zimbabwe declares drought a disaster
TLDR
- President Mnangagwa declares Zimbabwe's drought a national disaster, urges $2 billion aid for food assistance due to severe impacts of El Nino.
- Over 2.7 million Zimbabweans face food shortages; 80% of the country affected by inadequate rainfall, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
- Neighboring countries like Zambia and Malawi also declare similar proclamations, highlighting the regional impact of the ongoing drought emergency.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially declared Zimbabwe's ongoing drought a national disaster, citing the urgent need for over $2 billion in aid to provide essential food assistance to millions grappling with hunger.
This declaration aligns with similar proclamations made by neighboring countries like Zambia and Malawi, all grappling with the severe impacts of the El Nino global weather phenomenon.
Addressing journalists at the state house in Harare, Mnangagwa revealed that more than 2.7 million Zimbabweans are projected to face food shortages this year. He emphasized that around 80% of the country has been adversely affected by inadequate rainfall, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis gripping the nation.
Key Takeaways
Since November, numerous provinces across Zimbabwe have grappled with crop failure, with regions experiencing hotter climates even declaring staple grains like maize as complete losses. Humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Programme, have been actively responding to the dire hunger situation, having provided food assistance to 270,000 individuals across four districts between January and March alone. Urgent appeals for increased aid from donors have been made in light of the escalating crisis. The drought situation in southern Africa has now reached critical levels, with neighboring countries such as Botswana and Angola to the west, as well as Mozambique and Madagascar to the east, also confronting severe food shortages.
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