Attachments
This report is produced by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from April to July 2024. The next report will be issued on or around 30th September, 2024.
HIGHLIGHTS
• On Thursday, 29th February 2024, Zambia’s Republican President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema declared the 2023/2024 rainfall season’s drought as a National Disaster and Emergency.
• Rainfall deficits recorded in 8 out of 10 provinces significantly reduced national crop production.
• 9.8 million People in 84 districts have been affected, with 6.6 million in need of immediate humanitarian lifesaving assistance.
• A total of USD 1.4 billion is required to provide lifesaving and early recovering assistance to 6.6 million people affected.
• The number of affected people is projected to change once the In-Depth Vulnerability and Needs Assessment for 2024 results are released, and the National Response and Recovery Action Plan will be adjusted accordingly.
• Government has released ZMW 250 million towards the drought response.
• Currently, DMMU in collaboration with cooperating partners is responding to the drought emergency by providing lifesaving and life sustaining humanitarian needs, while implementing early recovery and resilience building initiatives in the drought-affected districts.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
During the 2023/2024 rainfall season, Zambia experienced the worst drought in the last 40 years. This affected 84 districts out of 116 districts across the country. The drought adversely affected crop production, pasture for livestock, power generation and the availability of both underground and surface water.
To guarantee food security, the government of the Republic of Zambia through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and in collaboration with cooperating partners has been responding to the drought emergency using a two-pronged approach, that is, providing lifesaving and life sustaining humanitarian needs and implementation of early recovery and resilience building interventions that seek to restore livelihoods and build community resilience to exogenous shocks. Interventions employed include, among others the importation of maize from surplus countries such as Tanzania to support immediate food assistance, the rehabilitation and construction of dams, borehole drilling and rehabilitation, as well as enhanced provision of agricultural finance to farmers.
Additionally, in anticipation of the spread of livestock diseases amid water stress and inadequate pasture for grazing, livestock farmers are being assisted with supplementary feeding, protection of rangelands, vaccination of livestock and heightened disease surveillance.