Southern African drought affects 68 million people- regional grouping says

Nearly 68 million people in southern Africa are suffering from the impact of drought and are in urgent need of humanitarian aid, The Southern African Development Community (SADC) said.

The ongoing El Niño-induced drought, left 17% of the Southern African population grappling with severe food shortages due to declining crop and livestock production, which has been significantly impacted by erratic weather patterns and prolonged droughts, he 16-nation SADC said.

Prolonged droughts hit Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique the most, with agricultural production severely disrupted, it said.

The drought has worsened existing crises, including slow economic growth, political instability, and limited access to essential services, pushing millions closer to the brink of disaster, the SADC warned.

The grouping appealed for international aid to help affected countries mitigate the impact of climate change and boost their resilience.

Southern Africa saw its driest February in 100 years, the UN said, receiving only 20 percent of the usual rainfall. Temperatures were also several degrees above average.