Severe Drought in Southern Africa: Analysis of the 2024 Crisis and Public Health Implications

The 2024 El Niño event is causing severe drought conditions across Southern Africa, affecting millions with food shortages and health crises. Approximately 23 million people are experiencing high food insecurity, with significant numbers of children suffering from malnutrition. The drought, compounded by existing public health challenges, necessitates urgent humanitarian assistance and response efforts.

The 2024 El Niño phenomenon has precipitated one of the most severe droughts experienced in Southern Africa over the past four decades, contributing to an array of humanitarian crises across the region. Characterized by delayed rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and extreme temperatures, the impact of this climatic event has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities within communities, particularly those already stricken by failed agricultural yields and adverse economic conditions. As a consequence of this drought, the availability of staple crops, particularly maize, has significantly dropped below five-year averages, leading to alarming food shortages and drastically depleted food reserves as communities attempt to survive until the next harvest season in April 2025. Currently, it is estimated that approximately 23 million individuals, particularly in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, are enduring high levels of food insecurity. Moreover, it is projected that between 14.0 and 14.9 million people will require immediate humanitarian support during the upcoming lean period from October to December 2024. National disaster declarations due to drought have been issued in six Southern African countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Angola and Mozambique are also severely affected, with food insecurity affecting an estimated 1.8 million individuals in Angola and 3.3 million in Mozambique. The plight of children is particularly concerning, as over 2 million are anticipated to be acutely malnourished in 2024, including more than 500,000 suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The drought has precipitated significant population displacements, outbreaks of disease, and substantial food and water shortages, all within a backdrop of existing public health challenges including cholera and measles epidemics. Troublingly, the potential emergence of mpox threatens to divert crucial resources away from drought response efforts in the affected regions. As the region concurrently battles one of the worst cholera epidemics in decades, persistent water shortages further complicate efforts to maintain hygiene and sanitation, heightening the risk for further cholera outbreaks, notably in Malawi and Mozambique. Additionally, the drought is likely to exacerbate challenges related to the transmission of HIV and AIDS, mental health concerns, and gender-based violence, all of which underscore the urgent need for increased preparedness and effective response strategies. The compounded effects of El Niño, cholera, ongoing conflicts, and climate change continue to strain health systems throughout Southern Africa, significantly hindering access to vital sexual and reproductive health services. In total, over one million individuals have been forcibly displaced within the context of disasters and climate change, predominantly from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.

The ongoing drought in Southern Africa has emerged as a critical humanitarian issue, primarily influenced by the El Niño climatic phenomenon. El Niño is known to induce extreme weather patterns, leading to significant disruptions in agricultural production and water availability. In 2023-2024, the effects of El Niño have been particularly pronounced, resulting in severe drought conditions that parallel historical precedents of climate-induced crises in the region. Communities that were already vulnerable due to economic hardships and agricultural failures now face compounded challenges, including food insecurity, health emergencies, and displacement. This situation necessitates urgent humanitarian assistance and a coordinated response from governments and international organizations.

In conclusion, the 2024 drought in Southern Africa, driven by the severe El Niño event, presents a multifaceted humanitarian crisis affecting millions. The interrelated challenges of food shortages, water scarcity, and public health emergencies underscore the necessity for immediate and sustained humanitarian assistance. As over 23 million people face food insecurity and significant numbers of children are acutely malnourished, it becomes imperative for the region to enhance response capabilities and implement preventative measures to mitigate the impacts of future climatic events. Moreover, addressing the public health ramifications and ensuring access to essential services are critical to safeguarding the wellbeing of affected communities.

Original Source: reliefweb.int