Zimbabwe: 3M Need Food Aid Amid Severe Drought, Government Minister Says
As many as 3 million people in Zimbabwe will likely need food aid this year, a government minister said over the weekend. That number is double the previous estimate due to severe drought linked to a potentially record-breaking El Niño in Southern Africa, according to Zimbabwe’s state-owned newspaper the Herald.
Drought is becoming more frequent and severe in southern Africa as climate change worsens. That, combined with this year’s El Niño weather system, is taking a heavy toll on Zimbabweans. Weather agencies worldwide have said the current El Niño may turn into the strongest on record. Thephenomenon, which is a warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, has affected rainfall across Southern Africa over the year, killing crops, disrupting hydropower production and forcing local water authorities to implement strict rationing in some areas, according to Reuters.
Pablo Tosco/Oxfam