Southern Africa experienced a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in 2024, with 22 million people needing urgent assistance due to drought, floods, and disease outbreaks, significantly exacerbated by El Niño conditions. Severe food insecurity affected 45 million individuals, while cholera outbreaks and tropical storms added to the challenges. The situation has triggered large-scale displacement, necessitating increased humanitarian response and resource mobilization, despite persistent funding shortages.
In 2024, Southern Africa faced unprecedented humanitarian challenges stemming from severe climate conditions, including the worst mid-season dry spell in over a century, flooding, cyclones, and disease outbreaks. These factors led to an estimated 22 million individuals requiring urgent humanitarian assistance across the region. El Niño significantly contributed to the historic drought and simultaneous flooding in Tanzania, exacerbating food insecurity affecting approximately 45 million people. Countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe declared national disasters due to drought conditions, leading to widespread malnutrition, with over 4 million children under the age of five requiring treatment for stunting.
The pervasive water scarcity and declining access to safe drinking water heightened the risks associated with waterborne diseases. In 2024, the region witnessed the deadliest cholera outbreak in a decade, with around 70,000 cases reported, resulting in 1,374 deaths. Other disease outbreaks, including Mpox and measles, further strained public health capacity. The impacts of four tropical storms and cyclones displaced thousands and affected approximately 610,000 people, with notable storms including Tropical Cyclone Belal in Mauritius and Cyclone Chido in December, impacting Madagascar, the Comoros, Mozambique, and Malawi.
In addition to climate shocks, economic instability and ongoing conflicts, particularly in northern Mozambique, resulted in significant displacement, with the region hosting approximately 829,000 internally displaced persons and 676,000 refugees. In response to the escalating humanitarian situation, partners in the aid sector increased their efforts in terms of advocacy and resource mobilization. Emergency Flash Appeals were issued for countries including Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, aligning with governmental efforts and the Southern African Development Community’s regional appeal, despite ongoing funding shortages affecting the overall response capacity.
The humanitarian snapshot for Southern Africa outlines a dire situation driven by a combination of climate-related disasters and socioeconomic challenges. The significant drought exacerbated by El Niño has had devastating effects on food security, leading to alarming levels of malnutrition and widespread health crises. Tropical cyclones and water scarcity further compounded the region’s vulnerabilities, creating a multifaceted humanitarian emergency requiring urgent and sustained international assistance.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa, rooted in climate abnormalities and compounded by social and economic pressures, demands immediate attention and action. Despite international efforts to mobilize resources and provide aid, the scale of need continues to surpass available funding. It is imperative to enhance support for affected communities to alleviate the devastating consequences of these overlapping crises and rebuild resilience against future shocks.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
