Red Cross warns millions are threatened by hunger in southern Africa

The International Federation of the Red Cross reports that hunger caused by drought in southern Africa threatens the lives of 11 million people in the region.

Countries including Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have all already been affected. Crop production in the region is down by 30% this season and the situation is expected to worsen. Zambia and Zimbabwe are believed to be worst hit, with 2.3 million and 3.6 million people suffering from acute lack of food respectively.

Elsewhere in the region, Botswana, Lesotho, and Namibia declared drought emergencies this year.

Michael Charles, head of the Red Cross, called the severity of the drought and food shortages ‘unprecedented’ in the region. He said people were going days without food and that farmers were left with no source of income as entire herds of livestock are wiped out.