African Union Donates $200,000 for Zambia’s Drought Relief

Lusaka, Zambia – The African Union (AU) has provided a $200,000 solidarity donation to Zambia to support relief efforts in response to a severe drought that has impacted millions. The funds were approved by the AU Commission’s PRC-Sub Committee on Refugees, Returnees, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The donation follows President Hakainde Hichilema’s declaration of the drought as a national disaster on February 29, 2024. The drought, linked to El Niño weather patterns and climate change, has disrupted agriculture, water supply, and energy production, leaving 6.6 million people affected and threatening food security nationwide.

The cheque was handed over to Zambia’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) by Ambassador Churchil Ewumbue-Monono, Cameroon’s Representative to the AU and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Earlier, Ambassador Ewumbue-Monono and his team met with Ms. Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen, Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation, in Lusaka. Ms. Gundersen acknowledged the AU’s assistance, noting its importance in mitigating the drought’s impact.

Ambassador Ewumbue-Monono is leading an AU humanitarian mission to assess the drought’s effects and is scheduled to visit affected areas in Lusaka Province in coordination with the DMMU.