Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango has announced that the country has received approximately $511 million from international partners to support its drought relief efforts. Speaking to state media, Nalumango expressed gratitude for the prompt response, noting that the funds consist of both pledges and actual disbursements.
The vice president highlighted the urgency of the situation, with 6.6 million Zambians in need of relief food. “The purpose of this donor support and that which is coming from other well-wishers is to ensure that this government sees to it that our people do not die of hunger,” she said, as quoted by the state-run Zambia Daily Mail.
Nalumango has toured several drought-stricken regions to assess the impact firsthand. She reported that some areas have experienced total crop failure, exacerbating the crisis.
In February, the Zambian government declared the drought a national disaster and emergency, appealing for urgent humanitarian aid. The government estimated that $940 million would be required to address the situation adequately. The drought, attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon, has affected 84 of the country’s 116 districts.
The vice president emphasised the importance of the timely declaration of the national disaster, which has facilitated the inflow of much-needed support. The aid aims to mitigate the suffering of millions facing severe food shortages due to the drought.
