Between 2017 and 2020, Southern Madagascar experienced three consecutive years of drought. The rainfall deficit, which resulted in food shortages, widespread malnutrition, and lack of basic and essential goods, further increased poverty all over the country, leading Southern Madagascar in the grip of a humanitarian emergency.
Southern Madagascar has always been particularly vulnerable to climate shocks. In the last century, the southern regions of the country have been hit by various famines, most of which occurred as a direct consequence of drought. Water shortage has affected the Madagascan people’s everyday lives and important sectors of the Madagascan economy, among which agriculture. Specifically, the last events during the most critical stages of the cropping cycle dramatically wiped the annual harvests, jeopardizing the agriculture season and increasing food insecurity and unemployment.
Today, the Amboasary District represents the territory mainly affected by the climate crisis. While the local population survives by nourishing raw mangoes and tamarind, inhabitants are often forced to eat insects, roots, leaves, and seeds to keep from starving. Not surprisingly, the World Food Programme (WFP) has described the situation as “extremely worrying.” As it has shown, around 1,3 million people – 35% of Madagascar’s population – are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. Similarly, due to the below-average rains for the third consecutive year, more than 130,000 children suffer from acute malnutrition, which is often complicated by diarrhea, respiratory diseases, or malaria.
Both local and international organizations have supported Southern Madagascar’s development for more than half of a century. Yet, despite the aid given, the country has never seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Over time, all the approaches used to tackle the disastrous situation in the country have failed. It is time to adopt new strategies to help the Madagascan people concretely.
By Simone M. Russo