UNITED NATIONS, Aug 23 (IPS) – Speaking at a press conference at United Nations headquarters on August 7, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq described the high levels of food insecurity and socio-economic distress in Zimbabwe as a result of the El Niño drought that continues to devastate the ecosystem. In April this year, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of emergency.
“More than half of the harvest has been destroyed and about 7.6 million people are now at risk of acute hunger,” Haq said, adding that about 5.9 million people are expected to face severe food insecurity early next year as the peak hunger period approaches.
Edward Kallon, UN coordinator in Zimbabwe, said: “This crisis has far-reaching implications for sectors such as food and nutrition security, health, water resources, education and livelihoods.”
The El Niño drought has led to a host of environmental problems in Zimbabwe, including lower rainfall, higher temperatures, depleted rivers and poorer air quality.
This is particularly worrying because Zimbabwe is highly dependent on rainfall, as this determines the success of crop production and the health of livestock. The effectiveness of their agricultural system is crucial to the country, as more than half of the population depends on it as a source of income. Furthermore, agriculture accounts for about 15 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
As a result of the decimation of crop yields, approximately 42 percent of the population is living in extreme poverty. This has led to young children being pulled out of school to work in an attempt to support their families.
“The drought has put Zimbabwe’s economy under pressure, with more than a fifth of school-age children now out of school,” Haq added. The El Niño drought has caused significant economic turmoil in Zimbabwe, leaving families in a state of disarray as they struggle to earn enough income to support themselves.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “more than 45,067 children have dropped out of school, 3,000 more than the annual average. Currently, the El Niño-induced drought could lead to more school dropouts as families face increasing poverty, making it difficult to pay school fees.” OCHA also predicts that there will be higher rates of child marriage, violence against children, child migration and child abandonment.
In addition to children’s lower educational attainment, they are also the most vulnerable in terms of health. Due to widespread food insecurity and compromised diets, children are at high risk of succumbing to famine, malnutrition and disease. The World Food Programme (WFP) states that approximately 27 percent of children in Zimbabwe are stunted.
Zimbabwean women are also highly vulnerable to the socio-economic damage caused by the drought. OCHA states that in addition to higher rates of child violence, increased levels of gender-based violence have also been recorded. In addition, there has been an observed increase in sexual violence, domestic violence and gender-based violence due to “increased family tensions caused by crop damage and loss of income”.
OCHA adds that rural communities have been hit the hardest. Rural communities in Zimbabwe make up the largest proportion of the country’s population, with about 62 percent engaged in agriculture.
Furthermore, the drought has had a detrimental impact on the country’s water supply, with many rivers running dry and not expected to recover for years. This severely limits access to clean water for many rural communities. OCHA states that “35 percent of rural households had access to inadequate water services, while 45 percent of rural households had to travel more than half a kilometer to collect water.” Decreasing access to clean water exacerbates poor hygiene and the spread of diseases, particularly cholera, which remains widespread among poorer communities.
At a press conference on April 8 at UN headquarters, Secretary-General Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said: “The humanitarian community in Zimbabwe is also concerned that the scarcity and depletion of safe water sources could lead to an increase in infectious diseases.”
OCHA adds that the risk of contracting infectious and waterborne diseases is significantly increased by the drought. The current cholera outbreak has been exacerbated by poor hygiene practices due to the droughts, with 591 deaths reported between February 2023 and April 2024.
In addition, the drought increases the risk of malaria and pregnancy-related complications. Pregnant women are highly vulnerable to stillbirths, infections, miscarriages and maternal deaths. OCHA adds that this is mainly because the drought severely limits resources essential for medication and quality of care.
Plans to mitigate the effects of the drought and help communities in Zimbabwe are in the works at the United Nations. Haq said: “The UN and partners continue to work with the government to support response efforts. However, the $429 million flash appeal launched in May — which aims to help more than 3 million people — is only about 11 percent funded.”
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
