Zim, Mozambique face hunger
MILLIONS of people across southern Africa, are grappling with the dual crises of hunger and flooding. Over half of Malawi’s 19 million people, six million in Zambia, over three million in Zimbabwe and three million more in Mozambique are facing hunger. Meanwhile, in Mozambique’s capital Maputo, floods wreaked havoc due to persistent heavy downpours that affected more than 50 000 people, barely two weeks after Tropical Storm Filipo hit parts of the country.
Since January 2024, extreme climate shocks in the region have killed more than 130 people, destroyed over 2 million hectares of crops and damaged over 7 000 homes and public infrastructure like roads, health centres and hundreds of schools.
The hunger crisis is now pushing people in the four countries to resort to negative coping mechanisms such as skipping meals and selling their assets to survive.
Eliza Anthony from Malawi’s Chikwawa district had her family home washed away by the March 2023 Cyclone Freddy-induced floods
In Zambia, Malawi and Central Mozambique, extreme drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon has damaged over two million hectares of crops including maize and other food crops. As a result, Malawi and Zambian governments have since declared a state of disaster and emergency. This marks the fourth year that Malawi has declared a state of disaster due to the impacts of extreme weather conditions since the year 2020.
Despite contributing a tiny fraction of global carbon dioxide emissions, the region has become a climate disaster hotspot. For instance, since 2018, Mozambique — a country responsible for only 0,2% of global emissions — has been hit by cyclones and tropical storms 20 times.
The recurrent extreme weather conditions have left citizens, especially the most vulnerable, unable to cope while their governments lack the resources to support citizens and rebuild. The estimated postdisaster effects from Cyclone Freddy alone is US$1,5 billion in Mozambique and US$500 million in Malawi.
Oxfam in Southern Africa programme director Machinda Marongwe said it was in such cases where climate financing is most needed to build up practical and sustainable solutions for smallholder food producers and people impacted by repeated climate shocks.
A recently published report by United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs say Angola, Botswana, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe received the lowest rainfall for the late January/February time frame in at least 40 years.
Oxfam and partners in all the affected countries are assessing the situation and urgently need US$15 million to continue their response through cash assistance to vulnerable households, providing clean water, improving hygiene and sanitation as well and implementing projects that safeguard women and girls’ rights in a crisis.
Oxfam and partners in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been supporting over 130 000 people with vital cash assistance and rehabilitation of water sources to enable them to have access to clean water and sanitation. Oxfam is also implementing programmes that support women and young girls who are most affected by climate crises through psychosocial support as well as working with other agencies and governments in strengthening national and community structures key to disaster risk reduction.
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