Southern Africa Humanitarian Crisis Overview (January 2025)
In 2024, Southern Africa faced unprecedented humanitarian crises due to severe droughts, floods, and disease outbreaks, affecting 22 million people. Food insecurity surged, with 45 million individuals impacted. The region also experienced significant cholera outbreaks and various cyclones that caused widespread destruction and displacement, leading to calls for increased humanitarian response and support amidst funding shortages.
In 2024, Southern Africa experienced dire humanitarian needs due to extreme weather events, including the most severe mid-season dry spell in over a century, floods, cyclones, and disease outbreaks. Approximately 22 million individuals required urgent humanitarian assistance as a result. The region faced unprecedented impacts from a strong El Niño event, leading to record drought conditions and flooding, particularly in Tanzania, severely affecting food security.
Consequently, 45 million people were classified as highly food insecure, prompting nations such as Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to declare national disasters due to drought-induced crises. This food insecurity has precipitated widespread malnutrition, with more than 4 million children under five needing treatment for stunting.
Water scarcity and limited access to safe drinking water, exacerbated by climate shocks, posed a heightened risk for waterborne diseases. Throughout 2024, the region experienced its deadliest cholera outbreak in a decade, with 70,000 reported cases and 1,374 fatalities. Other disease outbreaks, such as mpox and measles, were also documented.
The humanitarian crisis was further intensified by four tropical storms and cyclones, which caused extensive destruction and displacement, affecting approximately 610,000 individuals. Cyclones Belal in January, Filipo and Gamane in March, and Chido in December wreaked havoc across Mauritius, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
Displacement in the region continued due to climate-related hazards, economic instability, and conflict, with approximately 829,000 internally displaced persons and 676,000 refugees. Humanitarian organizations scaled up their response efforts, launching Flash Appeals for various nations, including Zambia, to support governmental initiatives and the regional appeal led by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). However, efforts to provide relief remained hampered by funding shortages.
The humanitarian situation in Southern Africa in 2024 arose from a combination of environmental and socio-political factors. The record drought and severe flooding, driven by a potent El Niño, led to widespread food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly among young children. Without sufficient safe water, the risk of disease outbreaks rose significantly, stressing healthcare systems already suffering from economic and climatic pressures. Displacement and emergencies triggered by natural disasters compounded the need for substantial humanitarian assistance in the region, creating millions in need of urgent support.
In summary, the 2024 humanitarian snapshot of Southern Africa highlights a dire situation characterized by unprecedented climate-related disasters, food insecurity, and public health crises. The ongoing efforts by humanitarian partners to provide assistance are crucial. However, funding challenges must be addressed to strengthen response capacities and ensure the well-being of affected populations.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
