Kathmandu— The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has issued a warning that a severe El Nino event is likely to worsen drought, hunger, water shortages, and disease outbreaks across Southern Africa. SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi highlighted forecasts indicating this El Nino could surpass the intensity of the 2023/24 phenomenon, speaking at the opening of the SADC Council of Ministers meeting in Durban on Wednesday. He emphasized the need for increased preparedness as climate-related disasters continue to threaten communities and infrastructure throughout the region, following earlier devastating floods that impacted trade and livelihoods.

Worsening Humanitarian Crisis

Magosi warned that the anticipated El Nino could significantly worsen food and nutrition insecurity across Southern Africa. He also noted potential increases in fertilizer and energy costs, which would place additional strain on government finances and escalate humanitarian needs. “These interconnected shocks threaten to undermine hard-won development gains and hinder our aspirations for regional integration, industrialization, and inclusive economic growth,” he said.

Shifting from Reaction to Resilience

SADC is advocating a shift in approach from simply responding to disasters after they occur to proactively investing in resilience. Magosi stressed the importance of strengthening early warning systems and implementing anticipatory planning and action to prepare for potential emergencies before they escalate. He also highlighted the need for climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster risk financing mechanisms to support countries both during crises and throughout the recovery process.

Strengthening Regional Response Capacity

The SADC Humanitarian Emergency Operations Centre in Nacala, Mozambique, was identified as a crucial component of the region’s capacity to respond to emergencies. Magosi emphasized that adequate financial and human resources are essential for enabling the centre to effectively coordinate contingency planning, emergency response efforts, and recovery initiatives.

SADC continues to emphasize the importance of preparedness and investment in resilience measures to mitigate the potential impacts of the upcoming El Nino event on Southern African communities.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.