Drought in Africa: UN Warns of Worsening Food Crisis

An Alarming Agricultural Situation in Southern Africa

The impact of the El Niño climate phenomenon has seriously affected harvests in several southern African countries:

• Mozambique : The UN describes a “disastrous” situation, marked by deserted fields and families reduced to surviving with “almost nothing to eat”.
• Malawi : Paul Turnbull, representative of the World Food Programme (WFP), reports that nearly half of the maize harvest has been destroyed by drought. Children are leaving school to support their families financially.
• Zambia : Considered the “food basket of southern Africa”, Zambia is now “on the brink of a food crisis”, according to WFP representative Cissy Kabasuuga.

DRC Faces Chronic Food Insecurity

In Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to face major food challenges:

• Malnutrition : A quarter of the population suffers from persistent malnutrition, according to Peter Musoko, WFP representative in the DRC.
• Multiple factors : Armed conflicts, climatic hazards, and epidemics (MPOX, cholera, measles) aggravate the situation.
• Disturbing figures : A recent WFP report indicates that 25.6 million people are facing food insecurity in the country.

Severely Affected Regions

• Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu : The intensification of armed conflicts has exacerbated food insecurity.
• Tanganyika : Repeated floods have made this province the most affected by food insecurity.

Conclusion: An Uncertain Future for Millions of Families

The effects of drought, combined with conflict and disease outbreaks, continue to plunge Southern and Central Africa into an unprecedented food crisis . Countries such as Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and the DRC are facing extreme pressure on their agriculture and food security. In light of this reality, the UN is calling for urgent humanitarian action and long-term strategies to strengthen the resilience of these regions and protect their most vulnerable populations.