2024 EL NINO INDUCED DROUGHT DISASTER: DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE
His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E.D Mnangagwa declared a State of Disaster
Highlights
Globally, climate induced hazards are on the increase and becoming more complex to manage as observed over the past decade and these include droughts, floods, cyclones, and strong winds. Drought is the most common natural hazard experienced in Zimbabwe. These perennial droughts continue to contribute to food insecurity as well as limited access to clean and safe drinking water in both rural and urban areas, and a high incidence of water borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Due to the frequency of droughts caused by climate change, the Government of Zimbabwe embraced Africa Risk Capacity Sovereign Drought Insurance Policy as one of the Ex-Ante/ pre-disaster risk financing tool to complement the traditional response mechanisms. Anticipatory Action (AA) was put into practice, with support from development partners to mitigate against the impact of droughts.
Currently, Zimbabwe like most Sub-Saharan countries is in the grip of the 2023/24 El Nino-induced drought which has resulted in massive crop failure, depletion of water resources and pastures. Due to the extent of the 2023/24 El Nino-induced drought, the Government of Zimbabwe together with the Replica Partners (WFP and Start Network) will receive payouts from ARC Insurance Limited. Albeit the drought conditions, the country has witnessed the occurrence of sporadic heavy storms, flooding, flash flooding and other trans-boundary hazards. The El Nino-induced drought together with the freak weather conditions have caused compounding humanitarian consequences on food security, nutrition, health, WASH, education, social protection, shelter, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and cross cutting issues among others.
The Zimbabwean economy being agro-based has been largely affected notwithstanding mitigatory measures vigorously pursued by Government and partners.
Given the foregoing, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E.D Mnangagwa declared a State of Disaster.
