Southern African countries, including Mozambique, have been removed from the UN’s Hunger Hotspot list following improved harvests that eased food insecurity triggered by last season’s severe El Niño event, Daily Maverick reports. Just months ago, tens of millions in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and Lesotho faced acute food shortages due to prolonged drought. However, the latest Hunger Hotspots report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) confirms improved climatic conditions have bolstered agricultural output.
“Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been removed from the Hunger Hotspots list. Better weather conditions for harvests and fewer extremes have eased food security pressures, though gains remain fragile,” the report stated. Zambia expects a record maize harvest exceeding 3.6 million tonnes, more than double last year’s 1.5 million tonnes. South Africa has also recorded a 14% rise in its maize crop, with futures prices falling by 13% since January, which will help ease food inflation.El Niño, which typically brings drought to southern Africa, was particularly severe in 2023/24 but has now shifted to a neutral phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
A possible return of La Niña later this year could bring further rainfall to the region, though global forecasters remain cautious. The report also issued warnings for other regions. Sudan, South Sudan, Palestine, Haiti and Mali remain among the most critical hunger hotspots, facing famine or catastrophic food insecurity due to conflict, economic shocks and natural disasters. The Democratic Republic of Congo has also re-entered the list amid escalating conflict and humanitarian access constraints.While southern Africa’s outlook has improved, experts stress that without continued investment and climate resilience, gains could be short-lived.
