Zambia on Thursday officially described the drought raging there as a “national disaster” that has devastated agriculture.
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President Hakainde Hichilema said the agricultural sector was devastated after the lack of rain and more than a million families were affected.
In an address to the nation, Hichilema said that the southern African country had not seen rain for five weeks, a time when farmers needed it most.
He added that this exacerbated the effects of another period of drought and floods that struck Zambia last year.
“The devastation caused by this long period of drought is enormous,” the head of state said.
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 relies heavily on hydropower.
Mr. Hichilema stressed that nearly half of its cultivated area had been “destroyed,” and that “this long-term drought” had caused a “national disaster.”
It is now a matter of mobilizing more resources to deal with this situation, as the drought is expected to continue until March.
The President stressed that humanitarian aid will be provided to ensure that people do not suffer from hunger.
He added that the government is also considering importing more electricity and rationalizing energy, calling for international support.
The natural climate phenomenon El Niño, which reappears in mid-2023, usually causes global temperatures to rise for a year.
They are currently causing fires and record heat around the world.
