The article addresses a severe drought in Southern Africa, exacerbated by El Niño, that is devastating communities across several countries including Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This drought has led to crop failures, livestock deaths, and a sharp increase in food prices, pushing an estimated 20 million people into acute hunger. The region, already impacted by previous climatic events such as cyclones and heavy rains, faces compounded challenges from global economic conditions like rising grain prices due to the war in Ukraine. The United Nations and local leaders are calling for urgent international assistance to address the immediate needs and to invest in long-term solutions to improve drought resilience and food security. The article also discusses the broader context of climate change, which may be exacerbating the frequency and severity of droughts in the region, marking it as a climate change “hot spot.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/18/climate/drought-southern-africa.html