The Australian Government has announced that it will provide further financial assistance to southern African to help combat the acute rise in food shortages caused by severe El Niño conditions in the region.
Australia will provide $10 million to the World Food Programme to deliver much needed food and nutritional support to 11.9 million drought affected people.
Countries in southern Africa are facing the driest growing season in over 35 years as a result of the current El Niño event, compounding effects from drought during last year’s season.
As a result of this 32 million people, including 2.7 severely malnourished children, in the region have been left with adequate access to food supplies.
Australia has been active in the global response to the impact of El Niño, which has also had a devastating impact in the Indo-Pacific. Australia’s response has focussed on funding lifesaving food, nutritional and livelihoods assistance for countries most affected in the Pacific and South East Asia as well as the Horn of Africa.
Additionally, through Australia’s aid program, the Australian government is investing in improving preparedness and resilience to climate variability that will help communities prepare for future periods of drought.
This additional funding brings Australia’s total contribution to $46 million for countries affected by El Niño.
