Over 24 million people in the Southern Africa region are said to be in dire humanitarian crisis; battling hunger, malnutrition, and flooding as extreme weather conditions wreak havoc across the region.
Oxfam warns of a worsening situation, with millions in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique suffering the devastating consequences.
In a statement released by OXFAM in Southern Africa, since January 2024, extreme climate shocks in the region have killed more than 130 people, destroyed over 2 million hectares of crops and damaged over 7,000 homes and public infrastructure like roads, health centres and hundreds of schools.
Eliza Anthony from Chikwawa District, had her family home washed away by the March 2023 Cyclone Freddy-induced floods.
“Last week, my family did not have something to eat for a full day and the following day we survived on porridge only. This year has been harsh since all the crops that we planted have dried up and we now must find alternative means of survival,” she said.
Oxfam in Southern Africa Programme Director, Machinda Marongwe, has emphasized that it is in these cases where climate financing is most needed to build up practical and sustainable solutions for smallholder food producers and people impacted by repeated climate shocks.
‘‘We are a region in crisis and donors must immediately release resources to support vulnerable
families to avert the situation that could spiral into unimaginable humanitarian situation,” said Marongwe.
The development has seen Malawi and Zambian governments declaring State of Disaster and Emergency.
By Yamikani Makanga
