The World Food Programme (WFP) has released a record-breaking U.S.$ 12.8 million as part of efforts to combat the impending drought impact caused by El Niño in four southern African countries.
Development Diaries reports, according to the United Nations intervention programme, will be used to implement a range of anticipatory actions aimed at safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of over half a million people in the region.
It is understood that the project, co-funded by Germany, the European Union, and Norway, is designed to enable the dissemination of early warning text messages, the distribution of drought-tolerant seeds and anticipatory cash, and the provision of safe water for communities and livestock.
‘Over 550,000 individuals will benefit in Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe’, WFP said in a statement.
The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal has been reported by climate experts to be the strongest seasonally varying ocean-atmosphere signal which is notorious for its ability to impact global weather.
Historically, it has been associated with record heat temperatures and droughts in summer rainfall regions of southern Africa.
Climate experts recently sounded the alarm on its impacts in southern Africa.
El Niño is predicted to occur at a time when the region is already under a great deal of stress, with some 47.4 million people in parts of southern and central Africa experiencing extreme food insecurity.
Photo source: WFP
