More than 20 million people are facing severe famine in Mozambique, Angola, Madagascar, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Eswatini, Tanzania, Lesotho and Botswana, the United Nations warned on Friday.
“The United Nations and our partners have launched appeals for assistance in four countries affected by El Niño, including Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to help 14.5 million people,” the organization recalls.
Southern Africa is experiencing acute food shortages due to drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
In its statement, OCHA also said that more than 1.1 million children under five suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 12 countries.
The situation comes at a time when parts of the southern African region are suffering from the worst drought in 100 years.
This year, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated $29.4 million (around €26.6 million) to fight drought in Southern Africa, which includes actions in Angola, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and, most recently, Namibia.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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