Extreme weather patterns in Southern Africa and Its Implications
In response to severe drought, the government of Namibia recently announced to cull 723 wild animals, including elephants and hippopotamuses, to feed 1.4 million people. The nation’s environment ministry defended the decision, stating that this exercise is necessary and compliant with its constitutional mandate to protect the environment and the people of Namibia. This action led to global attention as well as of wildlife conservationist. From India, a Gujarat based animal welfare Organization,Vantara has offered support to Nambian authority with viable alternative to culling program. Namibia along with other Southern African countries are facing their worst drought in decades. Experts attribute the drought condition to the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has been very severe this year.In the year 2023-2024 the Southern African countries such as Zambia,Zimbabwe,Malawi and Namibia declared state of emergency due to persistent drought.In response, several countries including India extended humanitarian assistance to the government and people of Southern African countries to address the food insecurity.The UN World Food Program in its briefing on 15th October 2024 has warned the food crisis is expected to deepen until the next harvests in March/April 2025 risking a full scale human catastrophe.In this context, the brief analyzes the El Nino induced drought situation and food crisis in Southern Africa under South-South cooperation framework, the global and regional responses and opportunities for India and Africa collaboration.
El Nino a contributing factor to Drought
Over the past few months, the drought situation in Southern Africa induced by the El Nino weather phenomenon has had a devastating impact on more than 27 million people causing the region’s worst hunger crisis in decades[1]. Tens of millions of people depend on small-scale agriculture irrigated by rain for their food and to make money to buy the provisions that were impacted by the El Nio-induced drought. So far El Nino is seen every three to five years and can last nine to twelve months. El Nino has occurred multiple times in Southern Africa including this year between November 2023 and April 2024, which came at a time when maize, the Southern African region’s staple food, is harvested.Experts have also warned that climate change-induced drought and irregular rainfall patterns are having a negative impact on the yield, development, and harvest period of the crop [2].In response to widespread food insecurity,global and regional actors have come up with various measures to address the cause.
Regional Response
To address the food insecurity in Southern Africa,The Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states agreed to launch an SADC Regional Humanitarian Appeal of US $ 5.5million to assist the effected population[3]. As part of SADC regional humanitarian appeal the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has committed US$ 33 million , and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has committed an amount of US$ 10 million. Besides, the SADC Regional Humanitarian Appeal will also focus on increasing domestic resources.
On the 29th of February 2024, the Zambian government declared a national state of emergency due to an ongoing drought situation.[4]. In response to the presidential declaration of national disaster and emergency in Zambia, the UN in cooperation with the government is preparing a drought response plan to support affected households in 84 districts.[5]
In response to hunger crisis from the El Nino induced drought, Namibian government is drilling boreholes, installing water pipelines, upgrading traditional wells, in addition to providing livestock marketing incentives and agricultural subsidies to support farmers[6]. Nambian Government has also extended $ 45 million to address drought and food insecurity. In addition to this the government also announced culling of 723 wild animals to feed the starving populations.
On 4rth April 2024, the President of Zimbabwe declared drought in Zimbabwe as national disaster. The Government of Zimbabwe has requested $3.9 billion from the international donors to deal with ongoing emergency and food, nutrition and health requirements of affected populations. Zimbabwe’s government has also begun hunting animals to feed its people, similar to Namibia .
On April 30, Government of Malawi has declared state of national disaster in 23 districts and announced El Nino response appeal.It requested $ 446 million from international donors to address drought led food insecurity[7]. The Government of Malawi is planning to provide around 400,000 metric tons of maize and around 140,000 metric tons of locally produced grain to address food insecurity in Southern Africa. Besides that, Government has also released,1,00,000 metric ton of maize grain and 160,000 metric tons of maize grain, which will be provided through cash transfer program between April 2024 to March 2025[8].
Global Response
International organisations and global actors including India have come with contributions to address the El Nino induced drought led food insecurity in the Southern African region.
In response to El Nino led drought in Malawi, United Nations in collaboration with Government of Malawi and humanitarian partners launched Drought Flash Appeal to address the needs and requirements of effected population.[9] In addition to this, World Bank is providing immediate support to millions of Malawians affected by food security crisis. The World Bank has released $57.6 million in innovative grant financing to extend immediate support through Catastrophe Defence drawdown option.[10] The United Nations, with the support of the Emergency Response Fund, provided an allocation of up to $ US 5.5 million to help Zambia deal with an unprecedented drought and minimise the impacts.[11] In addition to this, the World Bank has agreed to provide a grant to Zambia worth 208 million dollar to address the impact of drought.[12] The United Nations World Food Program welcomes contribution of $ US 1.65 million from united nation emergency response fund to provide humanitarian assistance to communities impacted by El Nino induced drought in Angola.[13]
Other than International agencies like the UN and the World Bank, powers like US,Japan,Switzerland and India have also extended their support to Southern African Region.For Example,On September 3, 2024, the US provided $40 million as an aid to combat food insecurity and enhance resilience in Africa. The funding extended through United states agency for International development (USAID) will go for projects in Tanzania, Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC].[14] The financial grants will help farmers to deal with extreme weather through improved crop varieties and strengthen water access and usage.[15]The United States has also announced US $ 5 million aid to the effected population in Namibia[16].In addition to this, US has also provided $US39 million as a drought response assistance to the people of Zimbabwe[17].
On the other hand,Japan has also extended US$2 million as assistance to Zambians affected by the devastating drought.[18] The Japan provided support for Zambia in dealing with food insecurity and stated that it stands in solidarity with Zambian people and hopes that the assistance will provide much relief to people impacted by drought.[19] Government of Japan also provided US $500,000 to the United Nation World Food Program to strengthen emergency drought response in Namibia.[20] In addition to this,Switzerland has been working for the last 20 years to bring a sustainable food system to Southern Africa. In response, Switzerland has decided to provide emergency aid worth CHF 4.7 million to deal with the problem of food security in Southern Africa.[21]
To keep up with India’s framework of south -south cooperation India has dispatched food grains from the Nheva Sheva port in Maharashtra to Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to strengthen Southern Africa’s food security and management efforts. In addition to this India has dispatched 1000 metric ton of rice to people of Namibia to address food insecurity[22].The assistance is in line with India’s principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the spirit of south-south cooperation, and unwavering support to Africa .[23]
Way Forward
The El Nino induced drought and the response shown by countries in Southern Africa to tackle the problem of food insecurity is a wake up call on climate change induced food insecurity as it impacted 70% of population who depend on maize as a crop for their livlihood. This situation can be tackled through collaboration and cooperation with countries in surplus maize or trade of maize with some other crop. In this context both Africa and India can collaborate on crops of need. For Example, the southern African countries like Zambia, Zimbabawe and Malawi are known for crops like millets, maize and sorghum. On the other side, India is the largest producer for wheat, rice and maize. An agreement for maize and millets can be mutually beneficial for both the countries. In light of this, the chairman of the BRICS Agribusiness Council, has declared that Africa’s vast fertile land offers opportunities for cooperation between India and Africa in the agricultural industry[24]. He further stated that Africa can come across as the supplier of pulses like oilseeds and millets.There are number of methods which can be executed to deal with food insecurity in Southern Africa.India’s collaboration with countries like Israel to enhance the agricultural production in regions with water scarcity through drip irrigation. Other initiative could be to learn from the collaboration between countries like UAE- India in the domain of Food security. India and UAE is to organize food corridor between nations with an investment of 2 million dollars to strengthen food security of UAE and to provide income support to farmers in India.These initiative can be taken as a stepping stone for collaboration between India and Africa to address the issue of food insecurity.
References
1. Worst drought in century devastates Southern Africa, millions at risk,Al Jazeera,October 15, 2024.
Worst drought in century devastates Southern Africa, millions at risk | Climate News | Al Jazeera
2.ibid
3.“Nearly 68M suffer from drought in Southern Africa”, SADC says,VOA,17 August 2024.
Nearly 68M suffer from drought in Southern Africa, SADC says (voanews.com)2.
4.“ Drought crisis has critical consequences for millions in Zambia”,Plan International,July12, 2024.
5.“United Nations Responds to Zambia’s Drought Disaster and Emergency”,United Nation Zambia,March 4,2024.
United Nations Responds to Zambia’s Drought Disaster and Emergency | United Nations in Zambia
6.“Southern Africa Regional Drought”,USAID,June 7,2024.
2024-06-11_USG_Southern_Africa_Regional_Drought_Fact_Sheet_1.pdf (usaid.gov)
7.“Malawi declares state of disaster over drought wrought by ElNiño”,Africanews,March23,2024.
Malawi declares state of disaster over drought wrought by El Niño | Africanews
8.“Malawian president appeals for aid amid drought, flooding”,The star, May 1,2024.
Malawian president appeals for aid amid drought, flooding | The Star
9.“Drought Flash appeal Malawi”, United Nation Malawi,24 July2024
DROUGHT FLASH APPEAL MALAWI | United Nations in Malawi
10.“Malawi: World Bank Provides Additional Support to Assist Food Crisis response”,World Bank, April 26,2024.
Malawi: World Bank Provides Additional Support to Assist Food Crisis Response
11.“ United nations provides 5.5 million for Zambia’s Drought Response” ,United nations Zambia, 26 April 2024.
United Nations provides $5.5 million for Zambia’s Drought Response | United Nations in Zambia
12.ibid
13. “ UN central emergency response fund contributes to WFP’s assistance to families affected by El Niño in Angola”,World Food Program, July 24,2024.
14. “Southern Africa Regional Drought”,USAID,June 7,2024.
2024-06-11_USG_Southern_Africa_Regional_Drought_Fact_Sheet_1.pdf (usaid.gov)
15.ibid
16. “United States Provides Additional N$90 million in Drought Support”,US Embassy in Namibia.
17.“The United States Announces More Than $39 Million in Assistance to the People of Zimbabwe”,USAID,July 18, 2024.
18.Japan provides critical funding for WFP’s drought response in Zambia,World food program, September 9,2024.
Japan provides critical funding for WFP’s drought response in Zambia | World Food Programme
19 . ibid
20. “Japan and WFP support drought affected communities in Namibia”,World food program,September 19,2024.
Japan and WFP support drought affected communities in Namibia | World Food Programme
21.“Drought and Hunger in Southern Africa- Switzerland provides emergency relief”,International cooperation Swiss Agency for development and cooperation SDC,June 21,2024.
Drought and hunger in Southern Africa – Switzerland provides emergency relief (admin.ch)
22. “India extends humanitarian aid to drought-stricken Namibia amid growing food security crisis”,India News Network,September 17,2024.
23. “India sends Humanatarian Assistance to Malawi,Zambia and Zimbabwe”, Ministry of External affairs,September 10,2024.
India sends Humanitarian Assistance to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe (mea.gov.in)
24. “Huge potential to increase agri collaboration between India and Afric”’,Buisness Standard,October 14,2024.