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Oxfam supports millions affected by climate-related disasters

11 November 2019

Severe drought and deadly floods are currently occurring simultaneously on the African continent. 52 million people in 18 countries are facing a serious hunger crisis as a result of the extreme weather.

Amina stands with her two children in an arid landscape. She carries one child on her back and another on her stomach.

Photo: Pablo Tosco / Oxfam Intermón

Mother of two Amina Muhammed, 23, has been living in a camp for internally displaced people in Lasgalol, Ethiopia, for a year. She is one of millions of others who depend on their animals, but now have to rely on emergency aid to survive.

Southern Zimbabwe has seen the lowest rainfall since 1981, contributing to acute food shortages for more than 5.5 million people. Drought has also affected countries in the Horn of Africa, while record-breaking temperatures in the Indian Ocean have caused extreme rainfall in Kenya and South Sudan, where nearly a million people have been affected by flooding. From South Africa, there are reports of suicides among farmers.

Hoden Abdi Iwal, 36 years old from Ethiopia, is one of those affected by the drought.

Photo: Pablo Tosco / Oxfam Intermón

Head Abdi Iwals says her children are hungry. When no rain falls, nothing can grow and the crops the family relies on for food die. "We are in a terrible situation. Both elders and children are malnourished. Animals are dying and nothing is growing. It's serious," says Hoden.

Many of the countries affected by the extreme weather are already suffering from ongoing conflicts. In the first half of 2019, 7.6 million people in Africa were forced to flee their homes due to conflict. In the same period, 2.6 million people were forced to flee due to extreme weather.

Research shows how climate change is causing extreme weather to increase in intensity and frequency. In the last 10 years, 18 African countries have collectively lost $700 million annually due to climate disasters. At the same time, minimal progress is being made internationally to raise money to repair the damage - something that is extremely unfair as Africa accounts for less than 5% of total global emissions but is suffering some of the worst consequences of the climate crisis.

Oxfam provides humanitarian aid in Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Currently, Oxfam reaches over 7 million people in the 10 countries with food and water aid, as well as long-term development projects to help people cope with the crisis.