Severe drought in Botswana sparks concerns over food shortage

Botswana is grappling with a severe drought, raising fears of food shortages as farmers anticipate their most dismal yields and livestock losses in decades.

A Southern Africa Seasonal Monitor report by the the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in February reveals that Botswana experienced its driest February in 40 years, exacerbating the strain on agricultural practices in this semi-arid country.

The drought, which has affected other southern African nations as well, wiped out crops and pushed up already high food prices. Experts warn that the situation is reaching crisis proportions, prompting the WFP to sound the alarm.

In the Central District of Botswana, particularly in the village of Gabojango, villagers are among those bearing the brunt of the drought's impact.

Boatametse Modukanele, permanent secretary of Botswana's Ministry of Environment and Tourism, commented on the challenges faced by a water-scarce country.

"We had prolonged days of extreme heat conditions and this has been really hard on us, because we are really a water-scarce country," said Modukanele.

As a resident of Gabojango who relies on farming for survival, Rakana Marabalala expressed concerns about the prolonged drought.

"I'm in the fields, this is what I and my family do every day, tend to the fields. That's because this is how we survive, how we make our food. We are worried that if the drought lasts long, it's going to be extremely difficult for many of us in the village," said Marabalala.

The drought's devastating effects extend beyond Botswana, with neighboring countries such as Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe declaring a state of emergency due to the dire situation. The primary cause behind this crisis is the dryness induced by the El Nino phenomenon.

Aid agencies, including the United Nations Children's Fund, estimate that up to 20 million people in the region will require food assistance in the coming months.

Severe drought in Botswana sparks concerns over food shortage

Severe drought in Botswana sparks concerns over food shortage

Severe drought in Botswana sparks concerns over food shortage

Israel's military operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah has caused a setback in the peace talks, resulting in a stalemate, said Qatar, a mediator between Israel and Hamas, on Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Qatar Economic Forum 2024 in Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed pointed out that the fundamental difference between the two parties is over the release of hostages and the termination of the conflict.

"Actually, in the past few weeks, we have seen some momentum building, but unfortunately, things didn't move in the right direction. And right now, we are in a state of almost a stalemate. Of course, what happened with Rafah has set us backward a little bit," added Mohammed.

On the same day, the spokesman of Qatari Foreign Ministry, Majed Al-Ansari, told reporters at a media briefing that Qatar would keep working to resolve the situation. He criticized Israel for not having viable plan for how to end the conflict, which is one of the main contributors for the stalemate in the ceasefire negotiations. He also said that aid supplies should be allowed unrestricted access to the Strip.

At least 35,173 people had been killed and 79,061 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, according to the health authorities in the enclave on Tuesday.

Nearly 450,000 people have been forcibly displaced from Rafah since May 6, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East said in a statement on Tuesday. Israeli tanks on the same day marched towards the center of Rafah, following hours of intense air and artillery bombardment on the city, a local source reported.

Talks over Gaza ceasefire at stalemate: Qatar PM