UN World Food Programme Struggles to Raise Funds for Southern Africa Drought Response

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is facing significant challenges in raising the necessary funds to address the devastating drought in southern Africa.

Despite efforts, only one-fifth of the required $400 million has been collected, leaving a substantial shortfall. The region is experiencing its worst drought in decades, with Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe declaring states of disaster.

The El Niño climate phenomenon has severely impacted crop yields, leaving 70% of the population who rely on rain-fed agriculture without harvests. The WFP aims to feed 5.9 million of the 27 million food-insecure individuals in the region until the next harvest season in 2025.

However, current funding is insufficient to meet the exceptionally high needs, and climate change is expected to exacerbate the situation with prolonged dry spells and frequent droughts in the coming years.