Nearly 70 million people in southern Africa are affected by the drought, induced by the El Niño phenomenon, which has decimated crops throughout the region.

The information was provided by the Executive Director of SADC, Elias Magosi, during the bloc's forty-fourth summit in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The drought, which began in early 2024, affected agricultural and livestock production, causing food shortages and damaging economies in general.

The heads of state of the 16-country Southern African Development Community (SADC) met in Harare, the Zimbabwean capital, to discuss regional issues, including food security, according to the international press.

During the event, Elias Magosi said that "the 2024 rainy season has been a challenge, with most of the region suffering the negative effects of the El Nino phenomenon, characterized by the late onset of rainfall".

Because of the phenomenon, countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi have already declared a famine, while Lesotho and Namibia have asked for humanitarian support

In May, the region launched an appeal for 5.5 billion dollars in humanitarian assistance to support the response to the drought, but donations have not been forthcoming, said the outgoing president of SADC, João Lourenço, president of Angola.

"The amount mobilized so far is unfortunately below the estimated figures and I would like to reiterate this appeal to regional and international partners to redouble their efforts... to help our people who have been affected by El Nino," he said at the summit.