The international NGO CARE warned last week that some 10 million Zambians, or half the population, are still suffering from hunger as a result of the devastating drought that has plagued the country since last year due to the climate phenomenon "El Niño".
The organization confirmed in a statement that "the worsening situation has forced countless families to limit their food intake to one meal a day," noting that Zambians now have to travel longer distances to find water.
It also noted that of the 9.8 million people affected by hunger, 6.6 million in 84 of the 116 districts require immediate assistance.
According to Chikwe Mboeda, CARE's country director in Zambia, "the situation in Zambia is tragic and worsening over time, especially for women and girls.
He added that "in addition to the hardship of traveling long distances, which exposes them to sexual and gender-based violence, girls, women and their families remain at risk of contracting diseases from contaminated water.
It is noteworthy that Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema declared last February that the drought period amounted to a national disaster and a state of emergency in the country. In a televised speech, he also stressed that the landlocked country needed more than $900 million to address the impact of the drought on vulnerable populations.
0 Comments