The United Nations has called for international support to help Zimbabwe address the humanitarian impacts of the El Niño-induced drought which is threatening 7.6 million people with acute hunger.
Over half of the harvest has been destroyed due to the historic drought induced by the 2023/24 warming El Niño episode.
Shifted rainfall patterns and long dry spells during the critical planting season left large parts of the region with insufficient rainfall and above-average temperatures.
The drought has deeply impacted Zimbabwe’s economy, forcing the government to reduce growth projections from 3.5% to 2%.
The country is also facing critical water shortages, and more than 22% of school-aged children are out of school due to the economic and social impacts of the drought.
“It’s tragic. Families have harvested nothing at all, and their food stocks are empty,” World Food Programme’s Assistant Executive Director Valerie Guarneri said after UN officials concluded a week-long drought-assessment mission to the country.
She said families are now making survival decisions as the situation continues to worsen.
“Families are now making survival decisions as the situation continues to worsen during the peak of the lean season between January and March next year and we are in a race against time to provide assistance,” she said.
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, Climate Crisis Coordinator for El Niño – La Niña, Reena Ghelani, said there is need for support for the medium term so that communities are not vulnerable to future shocks.
“The people we’ve met in Zimbabwe are facing a historic drought and need urgent support. Moreover, Southern Africa may be facing extreme droughts like this one every decade,” Ghelani said.
According to the latest estimates, 5.9 million people in rural areas and 1.7 million people in urban areas may face acute hunger during the coming lean period, and until the next harvest in April 2025.
In April, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a nationwide state of disaster due to severe drought caused by the El Niño weather conditions.
In May, the government launched a national plan to address the impact of the drought, supporting food distribution and imports.
The UN-coordinated Drought Flash Appeal for Zimbabwe, which brings over 60 organisations together to complement national efforts, requires US$429 million to assist 3.1 million people this year but is only about 20% funded.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Zimbabwe Edward Kallon said early funding from the UN, African Risk Capacity, and other partners has enabled the UN and its collaborators to start taking action.
“Thanks to early funding from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, the African Risk Capacity and other partners, the UN and partners have been able to kickstart anticipatory action and early response activities to mitigate the worst impacts of the drought. Now we need to scale up the response, to ensure that no one dies of hunger and children remain in school,” he said.
The United Nations and its partners are supporting the government’s efforts to assist affected communities and families and build long-term resilience.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is supporting humanitarian response coordination efforts.
