Zimbabwe is at risk of another prolonged dry period, deepening hunger for millions already grappling with the impacts of an El Niño-driven drought, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
The Southern African drought, which began earlier this year, has been the region’s most severe in decades, prompting Zimbabwe and its neighbors to declare a state of disaster due to widespread food shortages.
Rainfall, which typically begins in October, has been sparse, with only brief showers in late November. This has left the soil in many areas parched.
“We’re deeply concerned. You can see the land is completely dry,” said Barbara Clemens, WFP’s country director, at a food distribution event in Chivi, southern Zimbabwe.
In this district, families are already skipping meals to stretch their limited food supplies. Georgina Maphosa, 74, voiced fears of worsening hunger in the coming months after her maize crop failed to germinate despite planting it in late November.
“I can only afford to eat once a day. I had hoped this season would be better, but my early crop is already a loss,” said Maphosa, who had woken up at 5:00 am to line up for food assistance.
According to the government, more than half of Zimbabwe’s 16 million citizens required food aid this year.
Zimbabwe has struggled with food self-sufficiency since 2000, when land reforms under former president Robert Mugabe disrupted agricultural production, while climate change has further undermined the country’s capacity to grow enough food.