Zimbabwe declared drought a national disaster, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying the country needs $2 billion in aid to help millions of people who are going hungry. A severe dry spell induced by the El Nino weather pattern is wreaking havoc across southern Africa.

Harare

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Climate Crisis

Zimbabwe has officially declared drought, exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon, a national disaster. President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the need for approximately $2 billion in aid to support millions of citizens facing hunger as a result of the severe drought impacting the region. This climatic event is part of a broader crisis affecting several areas in southern Africa, where a significant dry spell is causing widespread disruption and hardship.



Zimbabwe declares El Nino drought a national disaster

It's the worst drought in Zimbabwe since 1992. The country was once the regional agricultural powerhouse and grain exporter. But prolonged droughts in recent years have thrust the country into crisis levels of food insecurity. This year, low rainfall wiped out half of the maize crop. The president estimates Zimbabwe will need $2 billion to help tackle the crisis as a result. In his speech, he appealed to the United Nations, local businesses and aid agencies to help. I have declared a state of drought disaster due to the severe food situation caused by the El Niño effect. We are mobilising resources to assist affected communities and mitigate the impact of this natural disaster. We stand together in solidarity during these challenging times. The drought is aggravated by El Niño, a climatic phenomenon that warms parts of the Pacific Ocean every two to seven years. It usually causes below-average rainfall in southern Africa, but this year's drought has been the worst in decades. Over 60% of Zimbabwe's 15 million people live in rural areas and depend on the food they grow, making them the most vulnerable populations. President Menangagwa said the grain harvest this season would produce a little more than half of the cereals needed to feed the country. His priority is to secure food for all Zimbabweans, turning to winter crops and importing grains from abroad. Since the beginning of the year, the United Nations World Food Programme has distributed food to some 2.7 million people, threatened with hunger because of the drought.

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Washington

Biden breaks silence on protests at University Campuses

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New York

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London

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Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine Invasion

U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

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Council of the City of Sydney

Grave fears for brothers missing on Mexico surf trip

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Bogotá

Israel-Gaza War

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Jerusalem

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Tbilisi

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The Hague

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Hainault

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Canberra

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Buenos Aires

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Odesa

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Edinburgh

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Lake Macquarie

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Kharkiv

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Madrid

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Riyadh

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Turin

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Beirut

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Sulphur

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