Zimbabwe declares national disaster in face of crippling drought crisis
In a bold move to combat the devastating effects of a prolonged drought, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially declared a national disaster in Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa revealed on Wednesday that the country urgently requires a staggering $2bn (£1.6bn) to address the severe hunger crisis triggered by the minimal rainfall that has decimated approximately half of the maize crop.
The grain scarcity has led to a surge in food prices, leaving an alarming 2.7 million people at risk of starvation.
With neighboring countries Zambia and Malawi also grappling with drought-related disasters, the entire region is in the throes of a dire humanitarian emergency brought about by the El Nino global weather pattern.
Zimbabwe has now entered a frantic race alongside other nations in the region to secure sufficient maize from the international market.
Authorities have warned that the actual number of individuals in need of food assistance may surpass initial estimates.
Once known as the breadbasket of southern Africa, Zimbabwe has been plagued by recurrent severe droughts in recent years, severely impacting both crops and livestock.
This current drought marks the worst to hit Zimbabwe since 2019, prompting reflections from Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu on the devastating effects of climate change on the environment.
While not all droughts can be directly attributed to climate change, the heightened temperatures in the atmosphere are exacerbating the situation by intensifying moisture evaporation from the earth, leading to more severe droughts.
With global temperatures already rising by approximately 1.2C since the onset of the industrial era, urgent action is imperative to curb emissions and prevent further environmental deterioration.
Source: BBC
