Overview of the Drought Crisis
Zambia is facing one of its most severe droughts in over 40 years, exacerbated by the climate crisis and the El Niño phenomenon. The drought has impacted nearly half of the population, severely affecting healthcare, food security, water availability, and electricity. In February 2024, President Hakainde Hichilema declared the drought a national emergency and called for international support to prevent a catastrophic hunger crisis. According to a recent SMART survey conducted by UNICEF in 84 drought-affected districts, a nutrition crisis is imminent unless immediate preventive actions are taken. The survey reveals high hunger scales and nutrient gaps, particularly in the southern and western provinces, followed by north-western and central provinces. As early as May, when the country was still in the harvest season, over half of the households in six of the seven surveyed provinces reported experiencing moderate to severe hunger.Infant and young child feeding practices are of particular concern, with children aged 6-23 months not receiving the minimum acceptable diet—97.5% in the western province and 93.9% in the southern province. An estimated 51,950 children under five are expected to suffer from severe wasting within the next 12 months, and another 276,805 are projected to face Moderate Acute Malnutrition. 

Humanitarian Needs and Inflation Impact
The UN Emergency Appeal issued in May 2024 highlights that at least 6.6 million people require humanitarian assistance due to the El Niño-induced drought, including 1.4 million children under age five. President Hichilema’s declaration of a national disaster on 29 February underscored the severe impact: crops have been destroyed, livestock have perished, and poverty and food insecurity are worsening for over 9.8 million people.source  (unicef Zambia ). The drought has exacerbated conditions where approximately 2.04 million people were already severely food insecure, as reported in the IPC analysis between October 2023 and March 2024. An estimated 58,000 people are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), and 1.9 million are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). The failed cropping season and extended lean period are likely to result in increased urgent humanitarian needs to address food gaps and protect livelihoods.source (united nations office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs ocha 2024). 

Rising inflation and food prices are further hindering access to food, particularly in rural areas where poverty levels are high. Zambia’s annual inflation rate rose from 12.9% to 13.2% in January 2024, with food inflation peaking at 14.2% in December 2023. This trend is expected to continue, making staple foods increasingly unaffordable for vulnerable populations.source (ocha 2024) 

Water and sanitation 
Drought and water scarcity have significant repercussions on nutrition through their effects on sanitation and hygiene. Limited water supplies can compromise essential hygiene practices, such as handwashing and food preparation, increasing the risk of gastrointestinal and foodborne illnesses. When water is scarce, people may turn to untreated sources for irrigation, which can lead to contamination of crops and further exacerbate foodborne disease outbreaks. Additionally, drought conditions can lead to higher concentrations of pollutants in water bodies due to reduced dilution, impacting both drinking water and food safety. This pollution, coupled with the potential for increased food prices due to reduced agricultural yields, can deteriorate overall nutrition and food security. Effective water management is crucial to maintain hygiene standards and ensure safe food production, thereby protecting public health during drought conditions.(source cdv gov) 

Malnutrition and Health Concerns
Zambia already faces high rates of malnutrition and stunting, with 35% of children under five years stunted and 4% acutely malnourished or wasted, according to the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The drought and rising food prices are likely to worsen these conditions. Reduced income and limited access to affordable nutritious foods will further deteriorate nutritional outcomes for affected families , source (united nations population fund Zambia 2024).

The drought is also drying up water sources and decreasing groundwater availability, impacting access to safe water. About 3.5 million people will require support to access safe water. Currently, 74.7% of the population uses improved water sources, but this number is expected to decline due to the drought. Reduced access to safe water increases the risk of waterborne diseases, including diarrhoeal diseases and cholera. The country, still recovering from a cholera outbreak that began in October 2023, could face further health crises as water sources continue to dry up. Source (united nations office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs 2024)  

Nutrition Interventions
In response to the crisis, accurate nutrition assessments are crucial for evaluating nutritional status and growth patterns. These assessments include anthropometric evaluations, which measure physical dimensions like height and weight, and dietary evaluations, which analyze food intake through methods such as food frequency questionnaires or 24-hour recalls to assess diet adequacy and nutrient content. In emergency contexts, these assessments guide the development of food and nutrition response programs, such as Supplementary and Therapeutic Feeding Programs, which address malnutrition. Additionally, Nutrition Education Programs and Food Fortification Programs enhance dietary practices and staple foods.

Nutrition Surveillance Systems help monitor malnutrition trends, while essential emergency responses include Food Assistance Programs, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Programs, Healthcare Services, Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI) Programs, and Psychosocial Support Programs. Addressing the crisis requires a coordinated and comprehensive approach, informed by precise nutrition assessments, to tailor interventions and meet the unique needs of populations in crisis. This will foster resilience and improve health outcomes in the face of ongoing challenges.

Lastly in response to the El Nino-induced drought in Zambia , a multi approach to nutrition is essential. By implementing comprehensive assessments, targeted feeding programs, capacity building to all professions in the health sector and outside the sector, and support services, humanitarian actors can effectively address the nutrition needs of the affected people in order to mitigate the risk and impact of the crisis. Coordination and continuous monitoring are essential on a long-term basis to ensure that interventions are timely and responsive to the evolving needs of the affected population. Nutrition is a very important aspect of drought and should be addressed urgently with long-term plans.