Emmanuel Himoonga, a chief in Zambia, reflects on unprecedented drought conditions, stating, "I have never seen anything like it in my life. Every crop we planted in these fields failed, I have lost everything." His observations emphasize the grave impact of climate change on agriculture in Southern Africa.
According to Eric Perdison, WFP's southern Africa director, this year's lean season began in August instead of the usual October, with months of food scarcity anticipated. The early onset of the lean period indicates rising vulnerability to food insecurity.
Perdison attributes the increasing frequency of droughts to climate change, noting that the region cannot be seen as separate from this trend, stating, "If you look at rainfall patterns, if you look at drought patterns within the region, we cannot point to any other factor than climate change."
The World Food Programme reports that Southern Africa is experiencing its worst drought in a century, affecting 27 million people, with 21 million children suffering from malnutrition. This alarming statistic highlights the severe consequences of the ongoing crisis.
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