Zambia officially declared the ongoing drought as a national disaster on Thursday, after it wreaked havoc on the agricultural sector, affecting over a million households.
President Hakainde Hichilema stated that the agricultural sector has been decimated due to the lack of rainfall.
In a national address, Hichilema highlighted that the Southern African nation has not experienced rainfall for five weeks, a critical period when farmers are in dire need of rain.
He added that this has exacerbated the impacts of another period of drought and flooding that Zambia faced last year.
“The devastation caused by this prolonged drought period is immense,” the President remarked.
He noted that the crisis, intensified by climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon, threatens food security, as well as water and energy supplies, given Zambia’s heavy reliance on hydroelectric power.
Hichilema revealed that approximately half of Zambia’s cultivated area has been “destroyed,” labeling the enduring drought as a “national disaster.”
The drought is expected to persist until March, necessitating immediate action to address the situation.
The President announced that humanitarian aid would be provided to ensure that no one suffers from hunger. He also mentioned that the government is considering importing more electricity and implementing energy conservation measures, calling for international support.
Typically, the natural El Niño climate phenomenon, which re-emerged in mid-2023, leads to a global increase in temperatures for a year. Currently, it is causing wildfires and record-breaking heatwaves worldwide.
