Zambia officially described the drought there on Thursday as a “national disaster” and has devastated agriculture.
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President Hakainde Hichilema said the agricultural sector had been devastated due to lack of rainfall and more than a million families had been affected.
There has been no rain in this southern African country for five weeks even though farmers need it most, Mr Hichilema said in a speech to the nation.
This exacerbated the impact of another period of drought and flooding that hit Zambia last year, he added.
“The destruction caused by this prolonged period of drought is immense,” said the head of state.
According to him, the crisis exacerbated by climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon threatens food security as well as water and energy supplies, as Zambia is heavily dependent on hydropower.
Almost half of its cultivated area has been “destroyed”, Mr Hichilema confirmed, adding that “this prolonged drought” has caused a “national disaster”.
The challenge now is to mobilize more resources to address this situation as the drought is expected to last until March.
The President assured that humanitarian assistance would be provided to ensure that people do not go hungry.
The government is also considering importing more electricity and rationing energy, he continued, calling for international support.
The natural weather phenomenon El Nino, which occurred again in mid-2023, typically results in a year-long increase in global temperatures.
It is currently causing record fires and heat around the world.