About 4.5 million children in Malawi, are at risk of facing hunger due to the El Nino induced prolonged dry-spell which has affected crop production in the country.
This is contained in a press statement by the UNICEF’s Eastern and Southern Africa office which says the 2023-24 El Niño phenomenon is one of the strongest on record and is aggravating already challenging conditions.
The revelation also comes barely days after President Lazarus Chakwera declared a State of Disaster in 23 out of the 28 districts in the country, due to El Niño conditions.
“El Niño has escalated regional climate patterns, causing dry conditions and erratic rainfall, subsequently affecting crop production, and worsening disease outbreaks. In Malawi, inadequate rains, floods, and prolonged dry spells have led to severe damage to crops and food production, impacting about an estimated 9 million people, including 4.59 million children” reads part of the statement.
Meanwhile, UNICEF has called on various stakeholders to prioritize investment in climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives, as well as in systems capable of withstanding the intensifying shocks brought on by climate change.
“Without sustainable responses, the future of children hangs in the balance,” reads the statement.
