Southern Africa: Humanitarian Snapshot (As of June 2024)

In Southern Africa, the worst mid-season dry spell in over 100 years, marred by the lowest mid-season rainfall in 40 years, and exacerbated by an El Niño phenomenon, has had a severe impact on the population. People are enduring staggering levels of food insecurity, acute malnutrition, water scarcity and disease outbreaks.

Food insecurity, malnutrition and water scarcity have been exacerbated by extreme weather events, a deepening climate crisis. In a region where 70 per cent of smallholder farmers rely on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihood, the impact of the severe drought on food security is severe. Overall, 20.9 million people, mainly in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Madagascar were projected to face acute food insecurity by May 2024. The severe drought is also leaving the region in a water crisis which is not only affecting people and animals, but regional energy generation.

The region is grappling with one of its worst cholera outbreaks in decades, with Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe among the eight most severely affected countries in the world. Since January this year, and as of mid-May, nearly 58,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths have been reported. Cumulatively 171,000 cases have been reported since January 2023. Although response efforts have led to gains in tackling the outbreaks, hygiene and sanitation risks being compromised by water shortages. Impact on infection prevention and control in health facilities and schools could also lead to poor treatment outcomes for children, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups, especially in remote areas. As of May, there have been 784 anthrax cases reported in Zimbabwe since the beginning of 2023.

The number of forcibly displaced people, returnees, and stateless people in the southern Africa region is expected to continue to rise in 2024, mostly people uprooted by the impact of climate crises such as drought and flooding and the complex emergency in Mozambique. Displaced people and the communities that host them are increasingly susceptible to inequality, conflict, food insecurity, fragile systems, and natural disasters.

El Niño-induced heavy rains and flooding have not spared Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. For example, Tropical Storm Gamane in Madagascar led to widespread damage, displacement and disruption of services.

To kick-start the drought crisis response, partners are implementing anticipatory actions alongside scaling up response in several countries in Southern Africa. However, urgent support is needed to save lives and protect livelihoods, and to enable communities to build their resilience against future shocks.