Southern Africa is on the brink of a hunger crisis after an historic drought decimated crops during the peak October to March farming season – one year after the region was pummelled by tropical storms. 

Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe declared national disasters within weeks of each other after insufficient rains wiped out crops including the staple maize harvest. 

The severe dry spell – exacerbated by the El Nino weather pattern that triggers higher global temperatures – has reached Botswana and Angola to the west, and Mozambique and Madagascar to the east. 

The World Food Programme (WFP) said that some areas had suffered their driest February in 40 years. 

As many as 50 million people are facing food insecurity. 

Authorities in Zambia have ordered the army to support food production, with 84 of the country’s 116 districts stricken by a drought that has also wrought havoc on electricity supplies. 

Read more: rfi.fr

Photo: rfi.fr