Introduction
Extreme weather events occur regularly in the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region. They are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. The consequences of El Niño in 2024 have resulted in almost 30 million people experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.
These natural hazards result in socio-economic challenges, reduced agricultural output and livelihoods for millions of people in the region, disease outbreaks, displacements and conflicts
What are the needs?
The Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region is prone to natural hazards (e.g. drought and cyclones) and man-made disasters caused by armed conflict and violence.
These hazards represent a major risk for exposed populations, resulting in the following:
- the loss of lives and internal displacement,
- destruction of livelihood assets,
- damage to major infrastructure, hampering the delivery of assistance in some severely affected areas.
In Mozambique, 2.3 million people need humanitarian assistance and protection due to armed conflict and insecurity. Close to 1.2 million people are displaced and returnees due to the conflict and/or climate events.
In the Grand Sud and Grand Sud-Est regions of Madagascar, some 2.3 million people are facing acute food insecurity, and around 460,000 children are likely to suffer from acute malnutrition.
In Zimbabwe, El Niño has induced prolonged dry spells, reduced rainfall, and increased temperatures. 6 million people are expected to be food insecure during the 2024-2025 lean season.
In Zambia and Malawi, 5.8 million and 5.7 million people are projected to experience high levels of acute food insecurity, respectively.
How are we helping?
In 2024, the EU made an initial allocation of €33.5 million to support humanitarian actions. The most vulnerable populations in Mozambique, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe are the main recipients of emergency aid.
The 2024 funding is reinforcing the humanitarian response provided to the region in 2023, amounting to over €72 million.
With rising needs, the initial humanitarian funding was topped up during the year for various emergencies such as the cholera outbreak in Zambia, and €25 million to respond to the consequences of the El Niño and ongoing food insecurity
Furthermore, the region is benefitting from the €19.7 million, out of which €6.5 million in 2024, allocated under the IFRC Programmatic Partnership, which includes anticipatory action/disaster preparedness.
EU humanitarian funding in the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region provides emergency relief response such as:
- food/nutrition assistance,
- protection services,
- access to health care,
- access to drinkable water, sanitation, and hygiene,
- logistics,
- anticipatory action and disaster preparedness.
The EU also supports actions to ensure the continuation of education in humanitarian crises. EU humanitarian funding ensures safe learning spaces and provides adequate education programmes for children in areas affected by violence and displacement.
Attention is increasingly given to disaster preparedness in schools through promoting safe learning facilities, training teachers in early warning, and teaching children how to stay safe. Having emergency stocks on the ground also facilitates and speeds up the response to rapid-onset natural hazards.
The swift provision of aid through emergency cash transfers to vulnerable people affected by disasters is also supported. This saves people from having to sell their possessions when food runs out.
Preparedness and prompt action can reduce the impact of natural hazards and help prevent loss of life, livelihoods, and property. The EU supports actions that improve the capacity of communities, as well as regional, national and local disaster management authorities, to prepare for and respond to disasters. Reinforcing the logistics capacities is also an integral part of preparedness and response.
Last updated: 19/11/2024
Facts & figures
About 30 million people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.
Over 1.4 million people are currently displaced across the region, including over 577,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to violence, climate events, and the conflict in Northern Mozambique.
Over 500,000 refugees in the region, mainly from DRC and Burundi.
EU humanitarian funding:
€65 million in 2024
€72 million in 2023
€518 million since 2014