The southern African region is reeling under a devastating drought triggered by the El Niño weather phenomenon, affecting more than 27 million people. The United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) has warned of the dire situation, cautioning that it could escalate into a “full-scale human catastrophe.”
The drought has hit several countries hard, with five nations — Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe — declaring national disasters. The WFP estimates that around 21 million children are now malnourished, as the once-vital crops have withered under the harsh conditions, plunging the region into its worst hunger crisis in decades.
Millions across southern Africa rely on rain-fed agriculture for sustenance and income, but the rains have failed. Aid agencies, including the WFP, sounded the alarm late last year when it became clear that the El Niño phenomenon was leading to below-average rainfall. Compounding this natural occurrence is the impact of climate change, with rising temperatures further intensifying the drought.
WFP spokesperson Tomson Phiri described the severity of the situation, stating that “this is the worst food crisis in decades.” With October marking the start of the lean season in southern Africa, Phiri warned that conditions would worsen each month until the next harvest season in March or April. “Crops have failed, livestock have perished, and children are lucky to receive one meal per day,” he said.
The Hunger Crisis Spreads Across Borders
The hunger crisis is widespread, with many countries outside the core affected region also struggling. Angola and Mozambique, positioned on opposite coasts of southern Africa, have also experienced severe drought conditions.
Phiri emphasized the need for immediate action, explaining that the WFP requires $369 million to provide urgent aid. However, only a fraction of that amount — about a fifth — has been received due to global funding shortages.
The situation is dire,” Phiri said, stressing that the ongoing shortfall in donations is hindering efforts to alleviate the crisis. WFP has already begun distributing food and providing other forms of assistance at the request of various regional governments, but much more is needed.
Adding to the pressure is that southern Africa’s crisis comes at a time when humanitarian needs are skyrocketing in other parts of the world. Global demands for aid are stretching thin resources, with crises in places like Gaza and Sudan also requiring urgent attention.
Severe Drought Has Ripple Effects
According to various agencies, the severity of the drought in southern Africa is unprecedented. In June, the US aid agency USAID described the situation as the worst drought the region has seen in 100 years.
El Niño, a periodic weather phenomenon that warms parts of the central Pacific Ocean, impacts global weather patterns differently. Its most recent cycle, which began in mid-2023 and ended in June 2024, has been linked to extreme weather conditions worldwide, including the southern African drought. Along with human-caused climate change, El Niño has contributed to the extreme heat waves and erratic weather that have devastated crops.
The food crisis has also driven up prices in drought-affected areas, exacerbating the hardships for millions. Zimbabwe, for example, has seen sharp increases in food prices, making it even more difficult for families to afford basic necessities.
Zambia and Zimbabwe, which rely heavily on hydroelectric power from the Kariba Dam, have faced additional challenges. The water level in the dam has dropped so low that it can no longer generate adequate electricity, causing hours — sometimes even days — of blackouts. These power shortages have added to the economic strain on both nations.
In a desperate attempt to provide food for their people, authorities in Namibia and Zimbabwe have resorted to killing wildlife, including elephants, to supply meat for their hungry populations.
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world. Scientists warn that the continent’s heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture and natural resources makes it particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. Millions of livelihoods depend on stable climate conditions, yet many African countries’ poor infrastructure and financial constraints make implementing effective climate resilience measures challenging.
