In the first quarter of this year, some districts in the provinces of Nampula, Zambézia, Sofala and Gaza experienced the worst drought in 50 years, as a result of the influence of the El Niño phenomenon, according to the report on the 2023/24 rainy and cyclonic season, presented last Friday (21) by the National Meteorological Institute (INAM).

According to the INAM incidence map, quoted by Terra MagazineAmong the districts with severe records of the historic drought are Moma (Nampula), Gilé and Chinde (Zambézia) and Marromeu, in Sofala and the northern part of Gaza province.

"In the central region, the impacts are more widespread and there is a need for a real on-the-ground assessment of the impacts on food security," says INAM's assessment.

"In the southern region, the districts to the north of Gaza province are the most affected by the drought, as they did not benefit from the rains associated with the passage of tropical storm Filipo," he said.

According to the national meteorological authority, the recent El Niño was the fifth strongest since 1950. The chronology of the most intense events is led by the 2015-2016 season, which resulted in the worst drought to hit the southern region of the country.

(Photo DR)