The drought has hit crop and livestock production, causing food shortages

Harare (Reuters): About 68 million people in Southern Africa are suffering the effects of an El Nino-induced drought which has wiped out crops across the region, the regional bloc SADC said on Saturday.
The drought, which started in early 2024, has hit crop and livestock production, causing food shortages and damaging the wider economies.
Heads of state from the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) were meeting in Zimbabwe's capital Harare to discuss regional issues including food security.
Some 68 million people, or 17% of the region's population, are in need of aid, said Elias Magosi, SADC executive secretary.
"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," he said.
It is Southern Africa's worst drought in years, owing to a combination of naturally occurring El Nino - when an abnormal warming of the waters in the eastern Pacific changes world weather patterns - and higher average temperatures produced by greenhouse gas emissions.
Countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi have already declared the hunger crisis a state of disaster, while Lesotho and Namibia have called for humanitarian support.
The region launched an appeal in May for $5.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to support the drought response, but donations have not been forthcoming, said outgoing SADC chair Joao Lourenco, President of Angola.
"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," he told the summit.
Five killed as coaster plunges into ravine in Azad Kashmir
- ایک دن قبل

Ration distribution turns tragic in Karachi as elderly woman dies in stampede
- 17 گھنٹے قبل

Iran’s military vows retaliation in response to Trump’s threats
- 19 گھنٹے قبل

Byrd gets first ECU hit 3 years after amputation
- 8 گھنٹے قبل

FIA, IB receive praise from PM for dismantling human trafficking network
- 16 گھنٹے قبل

Karachi's Soba Nagar transforms through collaborative WASH initiative
- 20 گھنٹے قبل

A DOGE staffer broke Treasury policy by emailing unencrypted personal data
- 9 منٹ قبل
33 killed, dozens injured as tornadoes hit Central US
- ایک دن قبل

Joby will launch UK air taxi service with Virgin Atlantic
- 9 منٹ قبل

These new Roombas aren’t the robots I know and love
- 9 منٹ قبل
New Zealand storms to nine-wicket win over Pakistan in first T20I
- ایک دن قبل

One down, three to go: Chelsea on course for quadruple after League Cup win
- 8 گھنٹے قبل