Southern Africans face famine threat due to El Nino

Food security outlook has been seriously undermined in southern Africa due to the disastrous impact of the El Nino weather, which triggered extreme droughts and heatwaves that destroyed crops.

Zimbabwe is on the brink of declaring a drought emergency, following the example of neighboring Zambia and Malawi.

Water shortage in Africa’s south means millions risk facing hunger in countries that have been already suffering from weak food security apparatus.

The World Food Program has warned that February was the driest month for a huge area stretching from the Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana border.

Farmers in this area rely on rain to grow staples such as maize. Their way of life is now threatened by the severe drought which could trigger migrations and worsen poverty.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said that almost half of the two million hectares of his country’s staple corn crop have been destroyed.