Nearly 68 million suffering from drought in Southern Africa, says regional bloc

Harare [Zimbabwe], August 18: About 68 million people in Southern Africa are suffering the effects of an El Nino-induced drought which has wiped out crops across the region, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said on Saturday.
The drought, which started in early 2024, has hit crop and livestock production, causing food shortages and damaging the wider economies, according to Reuters.
Some 68 million people, or 17 percent of the region's population, are in need of aid, said Elias Magosi, SADC executive secretary.
Heads of state from the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) were meeting in Zimbabwe's capital Harare to discuss regional issues including food security.
Source: Emirates News Agency