Malawi declares state of disaster as El Nino-induced drought intensifies
The southern African nation of Malawi has declared a state of disaster in 23 of its 28 districts due to a severe drought linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon. The drought has crippled food supplies, leaving millions in urgent need of assistance.
The president has appealed for more than $200 million in humanitarian aid to address the crisis, coming less than a month after neighboring Zambia also sought international help.
Zimbabwe, another country severely affected, is considering declaring a similar state of disaster as it grapples with decimated crops. The situation underscores concerns raised by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which warned that numerous nations in southern Africa were on the brink of a hunger crisis due to the impact of El Nino.
The WFP reported that nearly 50 million people in southern and parts of central Africa were already facing food insecurity even before the current dry spell—the worst in decades—struck. USAID, the U.S. government’s aid agency, estimates that over 20 million people in southern Africa will urgently need food aid in early 2024, partly due to the effects of El Nino.
Last month was recorded as the driest February in 40 years for Zambia and Zimbabwe, according to the WFP’s seasonal monitor. Malawi, Mozambique, and parts of Angola are also experiencing severe rainfall deficits. Corn, the staple food in the region, has been badly affected, impacting millions who rely on their own crops for survival.
Global implications of El Nino
El Nino is a natural, recurring weather phenomenon involving the warming of sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean. This warming has significant impacts on global weather patterns, including causing below-average rainfall in southern Africa. Some scientists suggest that climate change is amplifying El Nino events, making their impacts more extreme.
The 2015-2016 El Nino brought southern Africa’s worst drought in 35 years, according to the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs. The current situation raises concerns about the potential for similar or worse impacts in other regions, including Asia, where millions depend on agriculture affected by weather patterns linked to El Nino.
Wildlife also at risk
Humans are not the only ones suffering. Conservation officials in Zimbabwe reported the deaths of at least 100 elephants in a national park late last year due to waterholes drying up in the drought. This rare occurrence highlights the extensive reach of the crisis.
The need for global attention and response
The escalating humanitarian crisis in southern Africa serves as a stark reminder of the global challenges posed by climate phenomena like El Nino. As nations worldwide, including those in Asia, prepare for potential impacts, there is an urgent need for international cooperation and aid to mitigate the effects on vulnerable populations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
