UN warns of unprecedented hunger crisis in Southern Africa

The United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) has warned that a record 45 million people across Southern Africa are in urgent need of food aid. 

The figure represents an unprecedented shortage of food in 16 countries across the south of the continent. The situation is expected to worsen as the annual cyclone season begins. 

WFP’s Regional Director for Southern Africa, Lola Castro, said in a statement “This hunger crisis is on a scale we've not seen before and the evidence shows it's going to get worse”. 

Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are thought to be the worst affected. The region has already been blighted by repeated droughts, widespread flooding and economic hardship. Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi are still recovering from the devastation caused by Cyclone Idai in March 2019. 

According to the UN, nearly half of Zimbabwe’s population are living in a sate of chronic food deprivation, while 20% of those in Lesotho and Zambia face a similar situation. 

The WFP has issued an urgent appeal to the international community for support. It says it has only secured US$205 million of the US$489 million it requires to provide food aid. The agency plans to provide aid to 8.3 million people facing critical levels of hunger. 

Photo credit: Reuters | Mike Hutchings