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Zimbabwe removed from global hunger hotspot list
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Zimbabwe has been removed from the global list of hunger hotspots, a major development signalling early signs of recovery from the catastrophic El Niño-induced drought that gripped the region over the past year.
According to a new joint report by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Zimbabwe is one of eight Southern African countries no longer classified as high-risk areas for food insecurity.
The report attributes the improved status to better climatic conditions that have aided the current harvest season and eased food security pressures.
"In East and Southern Africa, as well as in Niger, better climatic conditions for harvests and fewer weather extremes have eased food security pressures," the WFP-FAO joint report stated. "Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been removed from the hunger hotspots list."
The shift comes after a year of severe drought conditions - the worst in over 40 years - that left an estimated 7.6 million Zimbabweans in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The delisting is seen as a positive step, but humanitarian agencies have warned that the recovery remains fragile.
"Lebanon has also been delisted following reduced intensity of military operations. However, FAO and WFP warn that these gains remain fragile and could reverse quickly if shocks re-emerge," the report noted.
Despite the encouraging news for Zimbabwe and several SADC nations, the global hunger outlook remains bleak in other regions. The report flags 13 countries as current or emerging hunger hotspots, with Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali described as areas of "highest concern."
Countries such as Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Nigeria are also considered hotspots requiring urgent and sustained attention to prevent catastrophic food insecurity. The situation in the DRC, which had seen recent improvements, is now deteriorating again.
Access constraints and funding shortfalls continue to exacerbate crises in these vulnerable regions, with the report warning that humanitarian efforts are being hampered.
FAO director-general QU Dongyu called for immediate and coordinated global action: "We must act now and act together to save lives and safeguard livelihoods. Protecting people's farms and animals to ensure they can keep producing food where they are, even in the toughest and harshest conditions, is not just urgent, it is essential."
WFP executive director Cindy McCain added: "We know where hunger is rising and we know who is at risk. Urgent, sustained investment in food assistance and recovery support is crucial as the window to avert yet more devastating hunger is closing fast."
As Zimbabwe cautiously emerges from the shadow of a devastating drought, aid agencies and government officials are being urged to consolidate gains, strengthen resilience measures, and prepare for future climate shocks to avoid slipping back into crisis.
According to a new joint report by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Zimbabwe is one of eight Southern African countries no longer classified as high-risk areas for food insecurity.
The report attributes the improved status to better climatic conditions that have aided the current harvest season and eased food security pressures.
"In East and Southern Africa, as well as in Niger, better climatic conditions for harvests and fewer weather extremes have eased food security pressures," the WFP-FAO joint report stated. "Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been removed from the hunger hotspots list."
The shift comes after a year of severe drought conditions - the worst in over 40 years - that left an estimated 7.6 million Zimbabweans in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The delisting is seen as a positive step, but humanitarian agencies have warned that the recovery remains fragile.
"Lebanon has also been delisted following reduced intensity of military operations. However, FAO and WFP warn that these gains remain fragile and could reverse quickly if shocks re-emerge," the report noted.
Countries such as Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Nigeria are also considered hotspots requiring urgent and sustained attention to prevent catastrophic food insecurity. The situation in the DRC, which had seen recent improvements, is now deteriorating again.
Access constraints and funding shortfalls continue to exacerbate crises in these vulnerable regions, with the report warning that humanitarian efforts are being hampered.
FAO director-general QU Dongyu called for immediate and coordinated global action: "We must act now and act together to save lives and safeguard livelihoods. Protecting people's farms and animals to ensure they can keep producing food where they are, even in the toughest and harshest conditions, is not just urgent, it is essential."
WFP executive director Cindy McCain added: "We know where hunger is rising and we know who is at risk. Urgent, sustained investment in food assistance and recovery support is crucial as the window to avert yet more devastating hunger is closing fast."
As Zimbabwe cautiously emerges from the shadow of a devastating drought, aid agencies and government officials are being urged to consolidate gains, strengthen resilience measures, and prepare for future climate shocks to avoid slipping back into crisis.
Source - NewsDay
