Alert Note: El Niño-induced drought crisis in Mozambique

VedvarendeEnergi (VE) has submitted an alert note due to drought in Mozambique.

A climate and food security crisis is unfolding across Southern Africa, including Mozambique, as an El Niño-induced drought brings about crop failure and immediate need for humanitarian assistance which have been exacerbated by rising food prices, cholera outbreaks, and ongoing macroeconomic challenges. The midseason dry spell, the worst in 100 years, has destroyed harvests in Mozambique where agriculture is the main source of income for more than 70% of the population and provides employment for 80% of the workforce. The first quarter of the year was marked by high temperatures in central and southern parts of the country which are most affected by drought. The situation was particularly critical in Tete province where temperatures soared 8°C above average. FEWSNET has indicated that Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes have emerged in semiarid districts of Gaza Province, Inhambane, Manica, Sofala, and Tete. It turns out that a large part of the District of Chiuta, Marara, Cidade de Tete, Moatize, Chifunde and part of Cahora Bassa, Marávia observed up to 27 consecutive days without significant rainfall (rainfall above 2mm), resulting in crop failur.

According to OCHA, 1.25 million people in drought affected areas were already food insecure (IPC3+) before the impact of El Niño, and they could see their food insecurity situation further deteriorate. 1.25 million food insecure people (IPC 3+) living in districts severely impacted by drought conditions are particularly at risk to fall into severe and emergency food insecurity (IPC4+). The prolonged dry spell and other extreme weather events, including cyclones, floods, and heavy rains, have also damaged app. 1.7 million acres of cropland in central and southern Mozambique, leading to below-average harvests, according to an April Famine Early Warnings Systems Network report.

These people will likely see their food insecurity situation deteriorate and fall into severe and emergency food insecurity (IPC4+) during the lean season influenced by rapid depletion of the below-average harvest, limited access to income and above-average food prices, which overall will have a negative impact on poverty alleviation efforts