Madagascar Is On Verge Of The First Climate Induced Famine In The World

Ruth Amaral Aguiar
Research Intern - Global Human Rights Defence

Madagascar is currently facing its fourth year of drought, causing one of the firsts famines originated from climate change in the world. The situation forced the over 30,000 citizens to eat locusts and wild leaves to survive. This scenario puts them in the level 5 of famine - the highest internationally recognized level of food insecurity, according to the United Nations World Food Program. Furthermore, over 1,1 million people in the island country are experiencing some level of severe food insecurity that requires urgent food and nutrition assistance.

The extreme drought has also led to agricultural losses up to 60 per cent in the most populated provinces, and the UN has warned of a severe humanitarian crisis. Moreover, these poor conditions were aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The WPF saleswoman, Shelley Thakral, says that “While some were looking for seasonal labour and tourism, there has not been any tourists coming into the country for the last 18 months”.

Although Madagascar produces 0.01 percent of the world’s annual carbon emissions, the country is suffering some of the worst effects, with unreliable rains and crop failures.

BIBLIOGRAFY

Jazeera, A. (2021, September 3). Madagascar on the brink of first climate-induced famine, UN warns. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from Aljazeera.com website: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/3/madagascar-is-on-brink-of-first-climate-induced-famine-un-warns

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