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65 Million People Affected by El Nino Drought in Southern Africa

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Appealing to the international community for assistance, the 16-nation Southern African Development Community has warned that some 68 million people in southern Africa are facing food shortages and damaged economies due to a drought brought on by the El Nino phenomenon, Reuters reports.

El Nino is a climate pattern involving the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
Affecting numerous countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, the drought began at the beginning of this year and has destroyed vast swathes of crops, impacting livestock production as well, Reuters said.

The leaders of the SADC nations have met in Harare, Zimbabwe to discuss the crisis, Reuters reports. “The 2024 rainy season has been a challenging one with most parts of the region experiencing negative effects of the El Nino phenomenon characterised by the late onset of rains,” Elias Magosi, SADC executive secretary, said in a statement.

Confirming that only part of the $5.5 billion in aid requested by SADC in May, outgoing SADC chair Joao Lourenco, President of Angola, told the summit: “The amount mobilised so far is unfortunately below the estimated amounts and I would like to reiterate this appeal to regional and international partners to redouble their efforts… to help our people who have been affected by El Nino.”