World Food Programme and OCHA Warn of Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Zimbabwe Due to El Niño-Induced Drought
Zimbabwe is facing a severe and underreported humanitarian crisis, primarily driven by a devastating El Niño-induced drought that struck southern Africa in 2024. The World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have issued warnings that millions of Zimbabweans will require humanitarian assistance to survive until future harvests. The drought has led to the destruction of over half of Zimbabwe’s harvest due to prolonged dry spells, below-average rainfall, and extreme temperatures. The Government of Zimbabwe declared a national state of disaster in April 2024, estimating that over seven million people would face severe food insecurity. Currently, approximately 7.6 million people, nearly half the country’s population, are at risk of acute hunger. Children are particularly vulnerable, with UNICEF reporting a significant increase in child wasting (low weight for height) in 2024, affecting an estimated 3.5 million children. The crisis is compounded ... 
