Oxfam, partners roll-out 18 months-long lifesaving humanitarian response in Southern Africa.

Over 150 thousand people in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe have started benefitting from an 18 months-long lifesaving humanitarian response by Oxfam and its partners valued at US$7 million funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). This follows the worst drought and lowest mid-season rainfall in 40 years, and localized flooding in some areas exacerbated by El Niño induced extreme weather conditions that have ravaged the Southern Africa region. These climatic shocks have left millions of people without food, safe drinking water, loss of livestock and at risk of gender-based violence especially against women and girls.

According to governments, UN, International Federation of Red Cross, and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) appeals estimate that 61 million people urgently need lifesaving humanitarian assistance. However, close US$900 million appeal for Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe is less than 20% funded leaving unprecedented vast unmet needs.

Through this response, Oxfam and partners are distributing cash and food parcels to targeted families, is undertaking water, sanitation and hygiene interventions and will raise awareness on protection and ending sexual gender-based violence among other things. 

Patricia Dure from Mberengwa District in Zimbabwe is among the recipients of food parcels that Oxfam and partners are distributing, and she says: "I am truly grateful for the support during these challenging times. Receiving the food hamper…has brought relief to my family. The Mealie Meal [maize flour], cooking oil, sugar beans, soap, and water purification liquid are essential for our daily survival. This aid has not only nourished us but has also given us hope and strength to get through the drought."

Trinity George from Malemia One Village in Chikwawa district received MK140,000 (approximately $80) on Wednesday this week and says: “It’s not easy getting food each day and the money I have received will help me get a bag of maize and some basic items for three months.”

Ezra Banda of Keepers Zambia Foundation, an Oxfam implementing partner in Zambia says: “The need on the ground is huge as most of the targeted people have no food and are walking long distances to fetch drinking water. This makes the project timely, and we are very thankful to GAC as we are implementing these interventions at a time when stress and anxiety levels are high considering that many people are yet to harvest their 2024/2025 farm produce.”

Oxfam in Southern Africa Programme Director, Machinda Marongwe, says developing countries in Southern Africa are facing multiple challenges as a result of climate change. This needs urgent action to build vulnerable communities’ resilience and address the impacts of extreme and unpredictable weather conditions.  

“The communities facing hunger due to drought or losing all their livelihoods to floods are tired of a lip service on climate financing by rich countries. Climate change shocks have become more frequent and more severe and addressing this must be a collective responsibility. However, the big greenhouse gas emitters that have made life so unbearable for poor vulnerable communities that have done little to contribute to it, need to pay the cost”, says Marongwe. 

“Climate financing, in form of loans, isn’t addressing the challenges smallholder farmers, particularly women are facing. Poor and vulnerable communities need grants that can help them grow food and build their resilience in the face of climate change and not more loans”. 

Through the GAC funded Integrated Emergency Response for El Niño Drought Affected Communities in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and Malawi project, Oxfam is working with five local partners across the four the countries and targeted households in Mberengwa District, Midlands Province in Zimbabwe; Gwembe, Namwala and Sinazongwe Districts, Southern Province, and Kalabo, Kaoma and Mongu Districts, Western Province in Zambia; Chigubo, Chicualacuala and Massangena Districts, Gaza Province in Mozambique; and Chikwawa District, Southern Region in Malawi will benefit from the initiative.