Drought: Malawi requests 600 thousand tons of corn to combat the risk of hunger and declares a state of catastrophe

Malawi needs 200 million dollars (around 185 million euros) to meet the needs of millions of citizens who are at risk of hunger due to drought, linked to the ‘El Niño’ phenomenon.

The situation led President Lazarus Chakwera to declare, on Saturday night, a state of natural catastrophe in 23 of the 28 districts of this southern African country, following a government assessment of the damage caused by ‘El Niño’ to agricultural production.

“In addition to late and irregular rainfall, these districts have been faced with little rainfall, flooding and periods of prolonged drought, which have seriously affected crops and food production prospects,” Lazarus Chakwera said in a statement to the country.

Chakwera also said that the initial assessment carried out by the Government indicates “that almost two million farming families were affected and that 749,113 hectares of maize — 44.3% of the country’s cultivated area — were damaged”, stressing, therefore, the urgent need for food aid to affected districts.

“I appeal to all Malawians, at home and abroad, as well as our development partners, the international community, dedicated United Nations agencies, the World Bank, non-governmental organizations, the local private sector, members of parliament and to anyone in a position to provide resources, financial or in kind, to support this cause”, he stated.

The Malawian President estimated that around 600 thousand tons of corn are needed, worth 200 million dollars, to respond to the serious situation the country is facing.

The Malawi Agricultural Civil Society Network (Cisanet) today supported the President’s call for international aid, but highlighted the “importance of aligning investments with climate-smart practices, improving smallholder farmers’ access to resources and strengthening local institutions for effective execution.”

According to the UN, more than 13 million people in Southern Africa already lack food, and this number is expected to increase in the coming months, as summer approaches its end in that region of the globe.

In February, Zambia, Malawi’s neighbor, declared a state of “national catastrophe” due to the devastation of its agricultural sector, which affects more than a million families.

Zimbabwe is also mobilizing against the risk of famine.

The ‘El Niño’ phenomenon, which reappeared in mid-2023, generally causes an increase in global temperatures for a year.