The Oxfam report details a significant rise in hunger in Eastern and Southern Africa due to climate-fueled water scarcity, affecting 116 million people lacking safe drinking water. The study found an 80% increase in extreme hunger in eight nations over five years. It highlights the exacerbation of flooding and drought caused by the climate crisis, while addressing the inequality faced by women and girls in water collection. Solutions require increased funding and investment in water infrastructure.
The climate crisis has significantly intensified water scarcity in Eastern and Southern Africa over recent decades, impacting nearly 116 million people—about 40% of the population—who lack access to safe drinking water, as reported by Oxfam. Floods and droughts, fueled by climate change, have worsened conditions for small-scale farmers, pastoralists, and fisherpersons, leaving many without sufficient food and clean water.
In its report, “Water-Driven Hunger: How the Climate Crisis Fuels Africa’s Food Emergency,” Oxfam highlights the relationship between water scarcity and rising hunger in eight severely affected nations: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The report notes an 80% increase in extreme hunger, climbing from 31 million to over 55 million individuals between 2019 and 2024.
The La Niña weather pattern is anticipated to exacerbate flooding in Southern Africa and South Sudan, while causing drought in East Africa, further jeopardizing food availability and household incomes in these regions. Globally, flash floods have surged in frequency by 20 times between 2000 and 2022, and the length of drought periods has increased by 29% since 2000, adversely affecting vulnerable communities.
Beyond water scarcity, entrenched poverty and institutional deficiencies worsen the crisis. African governments are meeting less than half of the US$50 billion annual funding goal necessary to ensure water security by 2030, leading to further disempowerment of at-risk communities.
Fati N’Zi-Hassane, Oxfam’s Africa Director, emphasized the human impact of the climate crisis, stating, “The climate crisis is not a mere statistic—it has a human face. It affects real people whose livelihoods are being destroyed.” Women and girls are disproportionately affected, often trekking long distances for water, which compromises their safety and prohibits opportunities for education and income generation.
Oxfam’s report further indicates substantial challenges: in Ethiopia, food insecurity has increased by 175%; in Kenya, over 136,000 square kilometers of land have become drier; and in Somalia, one failed rainy season could drive an additional million people into crisis-level hunger, affecting 4.4 million overall.
The report highlights the relationship between climate change and justice, asserting that wealthy, polluting nations must contribute more significantly to climate finance. Furthermore, it stresses the necessity for African governments to increase their investments in water infrastructure and social protections to better manage natural resources and support vulnerable populations.
The Oxfam report underscores the urgent link between climate change, water scarcity, and rising hunger in Eastern and Southern Africa. With nearly 116 million people lacking access to safe drinking water, and a dramatic 80% increase in extreme hunger, immediate action is essential. Additionally, socio-economic inequalities and insufficient governmental funding exacerbate the crisis, emphasizing the need for both local and global efforts to secure sustainable water resources and counteract the effects of climate change.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
