About 2 million Zambians are vulnerable to hunger, food security, poor nutrition, health, water and hygiene after heightened flash floods, dry spells swept the agriculture prospects in the 2021/22 season, fueling a call for humanitarian aid.
A 2022 in-depth joint report by Disaster Management and Mitigation Union 2022 conducted under the umbrella of the Zambia Vulnerability and Needs Assessment Committee, a consortium of various stakeholders including the Government, the United Nations system, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and seen by FRA and in 91 of the over 107 districts shows alarming threats.
Arguably, the multifaceted impact of the shocks faced during the just ended season shows severe impact on the livelihood of the majority people in the assessed districts, chiefly in rural Zambia. The report sought to provide an understanding of the costs on the agriculture sector and animals
The report notes that the prolonged dry spells floods, economic shocks, diseases (both human and livestock) and pest infestation (mainly the Fall Army Worms) had heightened during the period under review.
During the 2021/2022 rainy season, it argues, some parts of the country recorded normal to above normal rainfall which resulted in flooding in some parts of the country while others experienced some dry spells. This affected among other daily needs, nutrition, Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
The 2022 In-depth Vulnerability and Needs Assessment further revealed that during the 2021/2022 rainy season, some parts of the country had recorded normal to above normal rainfall which resulted in flooding in some parts of the country while others experienced some dry spells.
An estimated 50 districts needed humanitarian assistance while the main sectors identified as having been affected by the floods/dry spells were Agriculture and Food Security and nutrition, Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
The climatic catastrophes-the drivers of the vulnerability recorded between December 2021 and March 2022 were flooding experienced, dry spells, pest outbreaks such as the Fall Army Worms (FAW) and stock borers.
Between the period October 2022 and March 2023, the food insecurity in about 50 hotspot districts is expected to worsen with about 1.95 million people (representing 14% of analysed population) requiring urgent humanitarian action to reduce food gaps.
The humanitarian crisis calls for protection and restoration of livelihoods and prevent acute malnutrition during the lean period. According to the report a total of 1,952,123 people (308,687 households) from the 50 districts will require support for the period of six months (October, 2022 – March 2023).
It is estimated that from the 50 districts earmarked to receive humanitarian support, a total of 12 districts will be on Emergency Cash Transfer programme as recommended by the National Disaster Management Council leaving 38 districts on in-kind food distribution programme.
Recently, DMMU assessment showed that in Mumbwa, in central Zambia, a total of 48 households were affected by the storm with four being teachers’ houses, 2 church buildings and a Rural Health Centre-with more households being left vulnerable and without food, shelter,a concern for authorities.
“The Government-humanitarian agency appeals to the Food Reserve Agency to do community sales in 31 districts to make the commodity (grain) available for those who will receive the Emergency Cash Transfer.” The report cites Dr. Gabriel Pollen, the DDMU national coordinator as saying
This is inspite the Treasury having released funds to DMMU to bolster preparedness and response to undertake anticipatory actions in view of the 2022/23 rainfall season, projected to be characterised by floods and dry spells as indicated in the 2022 National Contingency Plan and the recovery action plan for 2022/23.
All the District Disaster Management Committees where agriculture production was affected by the climate crisis have been put on standby to adequately prepare and respond to the anticipated incidents (floods, hailstorms and cascading effects of the primary hazards such as water borne diseases).
The Zambian Meteorological Department (ZMD) in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, projects that the 2022/2023 rainfall season, coinciding with the projected period, is forecast to be normal in most of Southern Africa. It is feared that poor households will rely more on wage employment opportunities for food and income.
There are further projections of flooding disasters. According to DMMU, flooding is feared to occur especially in flood-prone areas in the north and north eastern parts of the country and ultimately affect most of the households that live in those areas.
This threat will further be heightened by COVID-19 likely to pose risks to areas close to main urban areas and the possibility of the Monkey pox scare also on the horizon.
