Nearly one million children malnourished as El Niño drought situation worsens

As of February 2016, the drought situation caused by El Niño is putting millions of children at risk from hunger, water shortages and disease, and having a devastating impact on agricultural areas and food security.

Lesotho, Zimbabwe and most provinces in South Africa have declared a state of disaster and almost one million children are in need of treatment for severe acute malnutrition in Eastern and Southern Africa. Water authorities in Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa and Namibia are limiting water usage because of low water levels. Power outages have been occurring in Zambia and Zimbabwe as water levels at the Kariba Dam have become much lower than usual.

According to a joint statement from by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the World Food Programme on 12 February 2016, followed by a press release by UNICEF on 16 February 2016, it is expected that the population in need of emergency food assistance and livelihood recovery support will increase significantly.

“The El Niño weather phenomenon will wane, but the cost to children – many who were already living hand-to-mouth – will be felt for years to come,” said Leila Gharagozloo-Pakkala, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. “Governments are responding with available resources, but this is an unprecedented situation. Children’s survival is dependent on action taken today.”

The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated that it will take affected communities approximately two years to recover from El-Nino exacerbated drought, if agricultural conditions improve in the latter half of this year.

Read the UNICEF press release English

Read the joint statement by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the World Food Programme English | Français | Español | Русский