Madagascar Drought

Starvation is one of the most common ways to die in impoverished countries. According to the United Nations, almost 25,000 die every day due to it. Recently, a drought has occurred in Madagascar and this has resulted in mass starvation across the nation. Approximately 400,000 people are being pushed towards a dire state of starvation, yet more than 14,000 are trying to survive with absolutely no food available. If nothing is done to mitigate the famine, this number of 400,000 could be pushed up by another 100,000 in the following months. This disastrous situation is one of the worst droughts Madagascar has ever witnessed, and the deadliest in the past 40 years. Families have resorted primarily to partaking of wild leaves, locusts, and raw red cactus fruit. These foods do not provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals for a human to sustain themselves. However, the citizens of Madagascar have somehow managed to hold out for months on end with this deadly diet.

In addition, many other countries like Nigeria, Burkina, Faso, Yemen, South Sudan and Ethiopia have been severely affected by famine. The WFP agency, the “World Food Program,” is attempting its largest fund gathering endeavor ever in history. Their goal is to provide around 6 billion dollars worth of food, clean water, and hygienic supplies for around 139 million people by the end of 2021. Madagascar falls under the WFP list of countries that are affected by a lack of nutrition. In Madagascar itself, the government is trying to amass 155 million to provide food for people in need.

Unlike some of the other countries in Africa and South America, Madagascar’s famine does not correspond to war or conflict. Instead, the root of the whole ordeal stems from climate change. Excess heat is trapped within the Earth’s atmosphere, which leads to temperatures rising and the moisture from soils evaporating into the air. Since climate change is affecting monsoon seasons and rain seasons, rain sometimes doesn’t come when farmers usually expect it to and result in a shortage of crops and water. The drought that was produced as a byproduct of global warming in Madagascar negatively affects agriculture, infrastructure, economy, and ecosystem of both that strip of land and the world.

As the decades progress, droughts will only get more intense and more frequent, similarly like most natural events influenced by global warming. Some of the repercussions of global warming are already inevitable, but some can be prevented by lowering carbon emissions and taking action now. In order to slow down the loss of global water, alternatives to consuming water should be found for various activities around the world. Regarding the drought crisis in Madagascar, there are many things one can do to assist.

Charities

• https://moneyformadagascar.org/famine-appeal/

-Madagascar, whilst famous for its astonishing flora and fauna, is a country in crisis. After decades of economic disarray, levels of income, healthcare and education are amongst the lowest in the world with an estimated 70% of the country living in poverty. Meanwhile population growth is putting enormous pressure on precious rainforest, with more than half of which has disappeared. In response to this social and environmental crisis, Money for Madagascar, a UK based charity, was founded in 1986 to enable the Malagasy people to take charge of their own destiny.

• https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/countries/africa/madagascar

-Hunger and malnutrition are often linked to extreme poverty and lack of access to available and nutritious food. Programs like Action Against Hunger can provide food security to empower vulnerable communities while improving their access to food, income, and markets.

• https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-fights-hunger-worldwide/33741

-Approximately 149 million children—one in five worldwide—are chronically emaciated. When not addressed, malnutrition puts children at greater risk of dying from common infections, which increases the frequency and severity of such infections and delayed recovery.

Works Cited

Cohen-Shields, Naomi. “How Climate Change Is Worsening Drought.” Climate 411, 30 Apr. 2021, blogs.edf.org/climate411/2021/04/30/how-climate-change-is-worsening-drought/.

McKenzie, David. “Climate Change Has Pushed a Million People in Madagascar to the 'Edge of Starvation,' UN Says.” CNN, Cable News Network, 23 June 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/06/23/africa/madagascar-food-crisis-climate-change-famine-intl/index.html.

“UN: Madagascar Droughts Push 400,000 Toward Starvation | Health News | US News.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-06-26/un-madagascar-droughts-push-400-000-toward-starvation.

Wires, News. “UN Says 400,000 Are Approaching Starvation in Madagascar amid Back-to-Back Droughts.” France 24, France 24, 26 June 2021, www.france24.com/en/africa/20210626-un-says-400-000-are-approaching-starvation-in-madagascar-amid-back-to-back-droughts.