Headline
Drought may affect 49 million in southern Africa: WFP
South Africa
Zimbabwean children watch as their mother collects water from a communal tap in Harare, February 5, 2016. Photo: Reuters, Philimon Bulawayo
As many as 49 million people in southern Africa could be affected by a drought that has been worsened by the most severe and longest El Nino weather pattern in 35 years, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday.
The WFP, which has already said 14 million people face hunger in the region, said the El Nino conditions had caused the lowest recorded rainfall between October and December since 1981.
The forecast for January to March indicated a high probability of below-normal rainfall in southern Africa, which would result in one of the worst droughts on record, it added.
Related Content
Headline
Nov 3, 2017 | CSAG
How severe is this drought, really?
Headline
Nov 3, 2017 | Climate.gov
Water rationing in South Africa’s second-largest city after multi-year drought
Headline
Oct 24, 2017 | Quartz
Cape Town’s drought and water shortage has officially escalated to disaster levels
Headline
Oct 12, 2017 | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Africa tops global hunger index, driven by war and climate shocks
