Harare, Zimbabwe – A devastating drought is gripping Southern Africa, leaving a staggering 68 million people on the brink of hunger, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) warned on Saturday.
The regional bloc blamed the crisis on an El Niño weather pattern that has wreaked havoc on crops and livestock across the 16-nation region. The drought, which began early this year, has triggered widespread food shortages and crippled economies.
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi described the situation as the worst drought in years, exacerbated by climate change. He told leaders gathered for a summit in the Zimbabwean capital that 17 percent of the region’s population is in desperate need of aid.
Several countries, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, have already declared states of disaster, while Lesotho and Namibia have appealed for international assistance.
The SADC launched an urgent plea for $5.5 billion in May to support drought relief efforts but has fallen short of the target, according to outgoing chair and Angolan President Joao Lourenço. He urged the international community to step up support for the millions affected by the crisis.
The drought overshadowed other pressing issues on the summit agenda, including the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which Lourenço described as a major concern for the region.
