SOUTHERN AFRICA- on the brink of a devastating hunger crisis Zambia Bureau
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – "SOUTHERN Africa is on the brink of a devastating hunger crisis as an unyielding drought tightens its grip.
El Nio has led to searing heat that led to massive crop failure causing water sources to dry up. As a result, millions of people in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been driven towards starvation.
“The situation is dire and demands urgent and coordinated action to avert a catastrophe,” said Matthew Pickard, CARE Southern Africa Regional Director.
In Malawi, El Nino has affected close to 4,4 million people due to below-normal rain and high temperatures.
This caused maize, a staple food in the mentioned countries, to be severely affected.
Other crops such as rice, groundnuts and soya beans have suffered substantial losses, threatening food security and livelihoods.
Over 2,7 million Zimbabweans are in need due to prolonged dry spells resulting in complete crop failure in many areas.
Forecasts predict a significant drop in crop yields and increased vulnerability among homes that depend on agriculture for sustenance.
Southern Africa grapples with escalating drought - CAJ News Africa
With stock market up, USD down, and copper at near record high, it must be IMO Ivanhoe's precarious sociodemographic circumstances that is the likely cause of investor angst today.
IMO it is NOT going to get any better over the next few months as temperatures rise and food stocks fall.
b.