Zimbabwe Declares El Nino Drought National Disaster

Harare, Zimbabwe: President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a national disaster on Wednesday, citing the severe drought induced by the El Nino weather pattern. The announcement came with an urgent appeal for $2 billion in aid to assist millions facing hunger.

Mnangagwa emphasized that no Zimbabwean should succumb to hunger and officially declared a nationwide state of disaster due to the El Nino-induced drought. The situation is dire, with over 2.7 million people projected to suffer from food shortages this year due to poor rains.

The country's grain harvest is expected to be insufficient, covering only slightly over half of the cereals required to feed the population. This dire situation is compounded by the El Nino climate pattern, which emerged in mid-2023, exacerbating global temperatures and leading to wildfires and extreme heat.

Zimbabwe joins Malawi and Zambia as the third country in southern Africa to declare a national disaster due to drought. This designation allows for additional resources to address the crisis, which has not only impacted food security but also electricity production, as Zimbabwe heavily relies on hydroelectric power.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has identified the current El Nino as one of the strongest on record, with its effects expected to persist due to the heat trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases. This prolonged impact will continue to raise temperatures, exacerbating the already dire situation.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), major food-growing regions in southern Africa received only 80 percent of average rainfall during the summer months, posing an increased risk of food insecurity. Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are particularly affected, heightening concerns about the region's food stability.