Hunger in Zambia set to dramatically worsen as El Niño looms

Heavy rainfall in the central parts of Malawi led to the death of six people last week, including two children after their houses were washed away by raging floods. The heavy downpour has caused widespread flooding and displaced more than 14,000 people in people in Nkhotakota District, with several areas cut-off after floodwaters destroyed roads and other infrastructure including critical bridges. At least nine schools are being used as camps for displaced families, affecting access to education for thousands of children. Fears of disease outbreaks including malaria are spreading fueled by congestion and poor sanitary conditions in the camps. Save the Children is calling for urgent national and international intervention to provide families and children with basic services including food and water in Zambia and Malawi. Many of the displaced families forced to move to higher ground in Malawi, including hundreds of children, are now in critical need of emergency supplies like food, shelter, clean water, and toilets. Save the Children

Pohamba, 14, lives with his mother and his brother in Lusaka, Zambia. He has had fibrous dysplasia, which is a disorder that affects bone growth and bone development, since he was three years old. Because fibrous dysplasia is a progressive condition, it's likely to become worse as Pohamba grows up. Currently, Pohamba needs crutches to walk and he can't lift heavy objects. Pohamba is a climate change and disability advocate. He says that, thanks to Save the Children, his career aspirations have changed. He used to dream of becoming an accountant, but – now – he’s passionate about children’s rights and healthcare. As such, he’d like to become a doctor while advocating for disability and climate change at the same time. As a doctor, he wants to learn more about his disorder – fibrous dysplasia – so that he can better advocate for other youths living with disabilities. As a climate change advocate, he plans on continuing to lead by example (i.e. picking up trash) so that his community is inspired to take action in support of the environment as well. For children like Pohamba, extreme weather patterns such as droughts, heatwaves, freezing cold, and floods threaten their future and stand in the way of their dreams. Pohamba told Save the Children that weather patterns in Zambia have changed rapidly over the last few years. For example, the extreme heat or the freezing cold make concentrating at school difficult for children like Pohamba. In the summer months, he compares the extreme heat to feeling like you’re being cooked. If people don’t start treating the environment with care, Pohamba is fearful that things will get worse especially for youths living with disabilities. Regardless, Pohamba is hopeful that if people start taking care of the environment, climate change will become a thing of the past. He suggests using clean energy instead of relying on industries that pollute the environment, planting trees, and more. Save the Children was put in touch with Pohamba via a partner organisation called Advocacy for Child Justice. Save the Children supports Advocacy for Child Justice financially to implement programmes with a focus on child rights. In addition, Save the Children has directly supported Pohamba with his disability advocacy by creating platforms and opportunities to engage stakeholders including the President of Zambia, senior Government officials, and the UNCRC Committee Chairperson Ms. Mikiko Ōtani. Moreover, Pohamba was supported to become one of the keynote speakers during the launch of Save the Children Zambia’s Strategy Plan 2022-2024.