Zimbabwe Releases Hunger Alert Amid Food Crisis

Zimbabwe has officially declared a national state of disaster due to a severe drought that is currently impacting the country. President Emmerson Mnangagwa emphasized the urgent need for $2 billion in aid to assist millions of Zimbabweans facing food shortages.

During a press conference in Harare, President Mnangagwa highlighted that over 2.7 million individuals in Zimbabwe are at risk of food insecurity this year due to significantly low rainfall.

Mnangagwa stressed that it is crucial to prevent any Zimbabwean from suffering or perishing due to hunger. Consequently, he announced the formal declaration of a nationwide state of disaster in response to the El Nino-induced drought.

The President also mentioned that initial assessments indicate a necessity for over $2 billion to support various interventions essential for the country’s national response to the crisis.

Mnangagwa outlined plans to prioritize winter cropping to enhance food reserves and collaborate with the private sector to import grains. Zimbabwe is the third country in southern Africa to officially classify the drought as a national disaster, following Malawi and Zambia.

El Nino, a natural weather phenomenon linked to disrupted wind patterns and warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific, has significantly impacted Zimbabwe. Many regions of the country have experienced crop failures, leading to the loss of corn and other staple foods.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has identified the current El Nino as one of the most potent occurrences on record. Despite reaching its peak in December, the phenomenon is expected to cause above-average temperatures until May across most land areas.

Humanitarian organizations, such as the World Food Programme, have raised concerns about the critical hunger situation in Zimbabwe, emphasizing the urgent need for additional aid and support.