Southern Africa is facing a severe drought, leading to significant food and water shortages, particularly affecting women and children. With agriculture stalled, many are making difficult sacrifices, such as withdrawing children from school to ensure food. About 26 million people are food insecure, with malnutrition rates soaring in Malawi. The crisis is exacerbated by climate change and El Niño, while a lack of financial support hampers relief efforts. Anticipated rains could bring relief, but also the risk of floods if not managed properly.
The Dire Drought in Southern Africa
Southern Africa is currently grappling with an unrelenting drought, leaving the region parched with minimal rainfall this year. Agriculture has come to a halt, leading to severe shortages of both water and food. The impact is felt most acutely by women and children, who are enduring the brunt of this crisis. Compounding these challenges, incidents of violence are on the rise.
The relentless heat continues to suffocate the land, with the much-anticipated rain still absent. As a result, countless individuals are experiencing the harsh realities of this extreme drought. Crops are withering, livestock are perishing, and access to clean water is alarmingly limited.
Humanitarian Crisis and Its Impact
Paul Turnbull, an official with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Malawi, highlights the dire situation in one of the world’s poorest countries. The prolonged drought exacerbates hardships, particularly in rural communities. “People are forced to make heartbreaking decisions, such as pulling their children from school, skipping meals, or even going without food themselves just so their children can eat,” Turnbull explains. “Those in desperate circumstances often sell their few remaining possessions, which makes recovery from this crisis even more challenging.”
Currently, at least 26 million people are facing food insecurity, with Malawi witnessing a threefold increase in malnourished children compared to last year. Experts link the lack of rainfall in much of the region to climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has significantly damaged grain harvests. For instance, Zimbabwe produced only 600,000 tons of grain instead of the usual two million tons, according to World Vision. Many fields remain barren, as farmers are unable to plant seeds in the parched earth.
Barbara Clemens from the WFP recounts her encounter with a young woman selling salt, revealing that she earns merely one dollar a day on good days. “We must not only provide life-saving emergency assistance during this crisis but also develop strategies to enhance people’s resilience against such shocks,” Clemens emphasizes.
This year has been marked as the hottest on record, with El Niño now emerging in the eastern Pacific. The repercussions of these climatic events are profound.
The Vulnerability of Women and Children
The most vulnerable populations—women and children—are suffering the most under these harsh conditions. During crises, there is a troubling rise in sexual violence. “Every day, 50 to 60 women are raped in the Congo,” reports Peter Musoko, WFP director for the Democratic Republic of Congo. “One survivor told me that when they go out searching for food, they must carry condoms with them.”
A critical shortage of resources is evident, particularly financial aid. The World Food Programme recently announced that hundreds of millions of dollars are urgently needed in the five most affected countries to provide immediate assistance over the next six months.
While the onset of the rainy season may offer some relief in the upcoming weeks, with weather forecasts predicting slightly above-average rainfall, this could also lead to challenges. Patrick Sikana, regional director for southern Africa at Care International, cautions, “If governments and communities do not adequately prepare, we risk experiencing floods that could wash away harvests, further extending the famine.”