The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has highlighted a dire situation in southern Africa, with over 20 million people in urgent need of food assistance in early 2024. The region, including countries like Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, has been severely affected by drought, exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon.
Malawi recently declared a state of disaster in 23 of its 28 districts due to drought, echoing similar appeals for humanitarian aid from neighboring Zambia. President Lazarus Chakwera has urgently requested over $200 million in assistance to address the crisis.
Zimbabwe is also facing significant crop damage, considering declaring a state of disaster, as the UN World Food Programme warns of an impending hunger crisis across southern Africa.Before the recent drought, nearly 50 million people in southern and parts of central Africa were already experiencing food insecurity. The situation has worsened, eaving millions vulnerable to hunger.
Source: AP News