Posted on February, 14, 2024 at 09:30 am
KEY MESSAGES
El Niño conditions continue to bring below average rainfall to most of Southern Africa. Poor and late rains coupled with high temperatures have affected especially the western parts of the region, with potential negative consequences for food and nutrition security in the region.
El Niño is associated with drought, erratic rainfall, and high temperatures, leading to water scarcity, reduced food availability, and disease outbreaks. El Niño-induced food price increases, diminished agricultural labour opportunities, and disruption of supply chains contribute to malnutrition, food insecurity, and economic strain. Limited adaptive capacity, humanitarian crises, displacement, and migration further exacerbate challenges in affected regions.
While El Niño peaked in early 2024, its full impact on food security will only be felt in late 2024 as an earlier and more severe 2024-2025 lean season in affected areas, especially in those areas that also recorded diminished harvests in 2024. Increased food assistance needs at the beginning of the following lean season in late 2024 and early 2025 can be expected.
The ongoing El Niño exacerbates the existing food security challenges, demanding increased humanitarian support, livelihoods recovery, and resilience building. Anticipatory actions are vital for timely and effective response, minimizing the impact on vulnerable populations.
Scale-up of Anticipatory Actions and crucial remote monitoring efforts remain insufficient due to funding gaps. The situation can only worsen in the subsequent extended 2024-2025 lean season, as needs escalate and funding gaps persist.
Coordinated preparedness and anticipatory actions are vital to mitigating the severe impacts of El Niño.
Early warnings should translate into prompt responses by communities, humanitarian responders, and political decision-makers to address food and nutrition insecurity effectively.
Government leadership is critical in coordinating and implementing responses. Advocacy is needed for governments to take ownership, fund national contingency plans, and prioritize early recovery.
Equally crucial is the leadership of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in coordinating a unified and cohesive response among member states.
While short-term emergency responses are necessary, they are insufficient: a combined approach that includes recovery, resilience building, and development interventions is necessary.
Awareness of the humanitarian and development nexus ensures a more comprehensive and sustainable strategy to address the interconnected challenges posed by El Niño, including impacts on health, nutrition, and sanitation. Building resilience through water security, climate-responsive production practices, and enhanced knowledge is crucial for long-term preparedness.
Collective action, increased resources, and effective coordination are essential to address the complex challenges posed by El Niño, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive timely and adequate support.
Source: ReliefWeb