Zambia: Drought Flash Appeal Response Monitoring (May 2024 - June 2025) (as of December 2024)

Situational Overview

In 2024, Zambia is among the countries in southern Africa that experienced its driest agricultural season in over 40 years, leading to severe crop losses, increased livestock deaths, and worsening poverty. The drought affected over nine million people across 84 of the country’s 117 districts, leaving 5.5 million in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.

An estimated 5.8 million people in Zambia are expected to face crisis-level hunger (IPC Phase 3) between October 2024 and March 2025. Climate-related shocks are the primary drivers of food insecurity, including droughts, pest infestations (such as Fall Armyworms and locusts), crop diseases, human-wildlife conflict, and high food and commodity prices, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

Drying water sources and decreasing groundwater availability have severely impacted access to safe drinking water in affected areas, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. The crisis also poses a heightened threat to vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, amid growing concerns about gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and abuse.

To support government efforts, the UN and humanitarian partners launched an appeal to provide life-saving and lifesustaining assistance to 3.3 million people between May 2024 and June 2025. With 37 organizations operating across the country, over 1.9 million people received assistance.

Only 21 per cent (US$40 million) of the $197 million required to assist people in Zambia has been provided. The Food Security Sector remains severely underfunded at 27 per cent, while the Agriculture Sector, which could help mitigate food insecurity through 2025, has received only 7 per cent of needed funding.

Financial support is critical to sustain immediate response efforts, mitigate the impact of drought, prevent further escalation of food insecurity, and strengthen community resilience.