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Snapshot 7:Mon, Aug 19, 2024 5:13:15 PM GMT last edited by NickBurk

Report: 68M People Suffering From Southern Africa Drought

NearlyReport: 6868M millionPeople peopleSuffering reelingFrom from drought in Southern Africa: OfficialDrought

Above: Dry fields in Lusaka, Zambia, due to drought. April 11, 2024. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Spin


The occurrence of El Nino, a climate phenomenon, is causing a severe drought in southern Africa, resulting in water shortages, food insecurity for millions of people, and wildlife deaths in Botswana and Zimbabwe. People are starving and urgently in need of humanitarian aid, whereasyet foreign donors have not met the target established to tackle this catastrophe. The region is in dire need of international assistance, and donors need to step up their efforts immediately.

Climate change is known to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. It's is commonly established that droughts in southern Africa are caused by a lack of preparedness, inadequate response, mitigation, and risk reduction. With little to no planning for drought disasters like the failure of the main maize crop, the only choice once the crisis hits is to rely on relief efforts. Therefore,Going forward better coordination and collaboration between governments across the region is needed.


Metaculus Prediction

There's a 20% chance that before 2100, there will be a 5-year period with an average global temperature that is >3.6˚C warmer than the 1861-1880 baseline, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


The Controversies


© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 7.4.1

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 7.4.1