The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has launched a $5.5 billion humanitarian appeal to support over 61 million people affected by El Niño-induced drought and floods. The appeal, launched by SADC Chairperson João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola, aims to augment domestic resources and mobilize support from national, regional, and international partners.

Report by Wilis Moyo

The appeal was launched during an extraordinary virtual summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, where President Lourenço emphasized the need for regional solidarity and cooperation. He urged SADC member states with the capacity to assist affected member states to do so, highlighting the long-standing tradition of regional cooperation.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has pledged $33 million, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has pledged $10 million towards the appeal. The SADC Regional Humanitarian Appeal was developed with support from FAO, OCHA, World Food Program (WFP), and other regional and international humanitarian agencies.

The appeal aims to address the multifaceted impact of El Niño-induced drought and floods, which has affected over 61 million people across the SADC region. The funds will be used to support affected member states, including efforts for resource mobilization from national, regional, and international partners.

The SADC Chairperson has urged the media to use their wide reach and influence to highlight the needs of the affected populations and draw attention to the urgency and scale of the humanitarian situation in the region. The appeal is a call to action for the international community, the private sector, and individuals of goodwill to assist in meeting the needs of the affected populations.

The current food situation in Zimbabwe is dire due to El Niño. The drought has left 2.7 million citizens at risk of starvation. President Mnangagwa last month declared a national state of disaster for Zimbabwe, thereby appealing for $2 billion in aid. In a recent post cabinet briefing, Dr Anxious Masuka, Zimbabwe Lands and Agriculture Minister, revealed that more than half of the population now needs food aid till March 2025.
The government has revised up the crop devastation to 77%.

The Catholic bishops have also sounded the alarm, calling for urgent action to address the crisis. The effects of the drought are expected to be severe, with many people in rural areas who practice subsistence farming having lost their livelihood.

The dry pasture conditions will also negatively impact the rural cattle herd, exacerbating the food insecurity situation.