ReliefWeb

Southern Africa is facing the worst drought in decades, with millions facing extreme food insecurity and water shortages, amidst a growing climate crisis fuelled by the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Nearly 18 million people face acute food insecurity, 14 million of them children, and 70% of hospitals no longer work amid rising diseases. This catastrophic situation must not be allowed to continue.

Nearly 55 million people in West and Central Africa will struggle to feed themselves in the June-August 2024 lean season, a four-million increase in food-insecure people compared to November 2023.

WFP is reaching vulnerable communities with food distributions, including hot meals for people living in temporary shelters in conflict-affected Port-au-Prince, cash disbursements and school meals.

Streets and public spaces are littered with unexploded ordnance, posing severe risks to civilians. Residents described dire shortages of food and water and the loss of critical health services.

More than 535,000 people have been affected across 33 flooded communes, of whom an estimated 220,000 need immediate humanitarian assistance due to the catastrophic impact of tropical cyclone Gamane.

UNICEF estimates that across the region, around 243 million children are exposed to hotter and longer heatwaves, putting them at risk of a multitude of heat-related illnesses, and even death.

UNICEF calls for the principles of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child to be upheld in new pact.