The Southern African Development Community (SADC) said on Saturday that drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon has destroyed crops across the region, affecting some 68 million people.
The drought, which began in early 2024, has hit crop and livestock production, causing food shortages and damaging the wider economy.
Leaders of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) met in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, to discuss regional issues, including food security.
SADC Secretary-General Elias Magosi said some 68 million people, or 17 percent of the region’s population, were in need of aid.
“The 2024 rainy season is set to be challenging as most parts of the region are experiencing adverse effects from the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has been characterised by a delayed rainy season,” he said.
It is South Africa’s worst drought in years and is caused by a combination of naturally occurring El Niño weather phenomenon – an unusually warm ocean current in the eastern Pacific that alters global weather patterns – and rising average temperatures caused 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 appealed for humanitarian aid.
The region appealed for $5.5 billion in humanitarian aid in May to help combat drought, but no donations have been received, said outgoing SADC chairman and Angolan President João Lourenço.
“Unfortunately, the amounts mobilized so far are below estimates and I reiterate my call on regional and international partners to redouble their efforts to help our people affected by El Niño,” he said at the summit.
The drought is a major topic on the agenda at this year’s summit, along with other issues such as the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which Lourenço said was a source of great concern.
