Climate experts in Southern Africa, the Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF), met in Harare, Zimbabwe, last week, to discuss rainfall forecast from October 2024 to March 2025.
Extreme weather events have cost around US$5.5 billion for humanitarian aid, according to Mapolao Mokoena, the SADC Director of Infrastructure.
She said the Region continues to face widespread drought conditions, with delayed onset of rains, prolonged dry spells, and extreme high temperatures resulting in heatwaves.
As a result, food insecurity has risen to 17.1%, affecting about 67.7 million people, compared to 57.1 million in 2023.
Significant increases in food insecurity were recorded in Zambia (222%), Namibia (182%), Zimbabwe (80%), Botswana (61%) and Angola (56%).
Mokwena said disasters in the Region include droughts, cyclones, floods, landslides, wildfires, and rising sea levels.
She said Seychelles declared a state of disaster due to industrial explosion and heavy rains, and Madagascar declared a National Disaster on 02 April 2024 because of Cyclone Gamane.
Now in its 23rd year of meeting, the SARCOF, plays a pivital role in identifying climate variability patterns for the season, assessing the previous season rainfall performance, and providing a forecast for the upcoming rainfall season.
The forum was attended by Climate Experts, including Permanent Representatives from SADC Member States with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), climate scientists, researchers, representatives from the water, energy, food and socio-economic sectors, disaster risk management experts, national meteorological and hydrological services and development partners.
Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, Minister of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife of the Republic of Zimbabwe, said national meteorological and hydrological services must continue to monitor weather and climate risks, including the evolution of the forecasted La Nina event and develop contingency measures to address the impact of disasters in the region.
Tebogo Matlhare, the Representative of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Botswana and SADC, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting climate interventions in the SADC region through the Intra-ACP Climate Services and related Application (ClimSA) Programme. The ClimSA project, is an initiative funded by the European Union through the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) and aims to strengthen capacity and build resilience against climate risks.
Picture: Supplied