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4 clusters · 7 sources · 29 days · First seen · Last updated

Southern Africa El Niño climate response

Overview

Governments in Southern Africa are implementing measures to mitigate the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon on food security and economic stability.

In Mozambique, President Daniel Chapo announced $75 million in government funding to address agricultural production challenges caused by recent floods and ongoing droughts. The initiative includes the distribution of animal traction kits to producers to bolster food security. In Sofala province, authorities have warned that between 436,000 and 439,000 people could be affected by extreme weather during the 2026–2027 season. The Provincial Emergency Operations Committee approved a 43 million meticais contingency plan to prepare for these events, driven by a strong El Niño expected to prevail from October 2026 to March 2027.

Recent warnings from CARE Mozambique indicate the crisis is intensifying. The organization reported that at least 1.84 million people in Mozambique may face high levels of food insecurity due to drought linked to El Niño, which threatens the upcoming agricultural campaign. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), approximately 1.84 million people are expected to experience food insecurity at crisis levels or higher between October 2026 and March 2027, with 254,000 potentially reaching emergency levels. Projections also suggest over 103,600 children under the age of five could suffer from acute malnutrition. A rapid assessment in Gaza, Inhambane, and Nampula provinces noted that water scarcity is forcing women and girls to travel longer distances, increasing risks of premature marriage and school dropout.

In Zambia, the government activated a national preparedness plan to combat acute food insecurity projected to affect approximately 1.25 million people.

Entities

Gaza Province · Zambia · Sofala · Integrated Food Security Phase Classification · Daniel Chapo

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Mozambique faces hunger crisis for 1.84 million people due to El Niño

    CARE Mozambique warns that El Niño-induced drought could leave 1.84 million people facing food insecurity and 254,000 in emergency levels of hunger by early 2027.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Sofala province faces drought and flood risks due to El Niño

    Nearly 439,000 people in Mozambique's Sofala province face risks of drought and flooding during the 2026-27 season due to El Niño, prompting a 43 million metical contingency plan.

  3. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Zambia activates El Niño preparedness plan as food insecurity risks rise

    Zambia has launched a coordinated national response plan to mitigate the impact of the 2026/2027 El Niño, which threatens 1.25 million people with acute food insecurity.

  4. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Mozambique President announces $75 million for El Niño mitigation

    President Daniel Chapo visited Gaza, Mozambique, announcing $75 million to combat El Niño's impact on agriculture and highlighting women's economic roles and the success of local development funds.

Sources

aimnews.org · diarioeconomico.co.mz · econoTimes.com · ikweli.co.mz · observador.pt · sapo.pt · zambiamonitor.com

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history