Southern Africa and Indian Ocean

Introduction

Southern Africa faces a complex array of humanitarian challenges driven by environmental, social and economic factors. Extreme weather events occur regularly in the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region. They are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. The consequences of El Niño induced drought have resulted in high levels of food insecurity and some 12 million are still facing acute food insecurity.

Facts and figures

about 1 million people internally displaced
over 425,000 refugees in the region, mainly from DRC and Burundi
over 12 million people
experience food insecurity

What are the needs?

The Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region is vulnerable to

natural hazards; drought and cyclones
conflict and violence

In early 2026, floods affected the region including Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, and 2 tropical cyclones hit Madagascar, causing significant damages, as it happens on a yearly basis.

El Niño induced drought

In 2023/2024, a prolonged El Niño-induced drought scorched crops in a region where 70% of the population relies on agriculture to survive. More than 30 million people across 14 countries were facing acute food insecurity and 6 countries declared a state of emergency due to the El Niño induced drought:

Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The region is also regularly affected by disease outbreaks.

An outdoor aid distribution point under a large tree in a rural area, where people queue at a wooden table to register with staff for support. In the foreground, a large sign with the European Union flag and logos of partner organisations reads: “Emergency assistance for drought-affected households,” indicating that the scene shows a humanitarian programme providing drought relief. — An EU-supported food distribution in the village of Zumbare. Over 7.6 million people were facing food shortages during the 2024-2025 drought, prompting the Zimbabwean government to declare a national disaster.
© European Union, 2025 (photographer: Peter Biro)

Mozambique

In Mozambique, approximately 4.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the country, due to:

recent floods
national food insecurity
armed conflict and insecurity in the conflict-affected areas in the North of the country

There has also been some 1.5 million displaced people and returnees due to violence since 2017.

Madagascar

In the Grand Sud and Grand Sud-Est regions of Madagascar, some 1.7 million people are facing acute food insecurity and an estimated 558,000 children under 5 are either currently suffering or at risk of suffering from acute malnutrition.

Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, after El Niño has induced prolonged dry spells, reduced rainfall, and increased temperatures, 6 million people had limited access to food during 2024-2025 lean season. In 2026 food insecurity is expected to remain widespread across the typical deficit-producing areas of the south, east, west, and far north.

Zambia and Malawi

In Zambia and Malawi, 1.7 million and 4 million people are projected to experience high level of food insecurity respectively (crisis level or higher).

How are we helping?

In 2026, the EU made an initial allocation of €36 million to support humanitarian actions, including €6 million to strengthen disaster preparedness.

Mozambique

In Mozambique, EU humanitarian funding covers multi-sectoral life-saving assistance including:

food security, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, education in emergencies, protection, rapid response actions, disaster preparedness and key enablers for humanitarian action such as security and transportation.

Madagascar

In Madagascar, the EU humanitarian aid supports:

food security, nutrition, health, protection, transportation and disaster preparedness operations in the Grand Sud.

A farm worker stands on a muddy path in lush green countryside, carrying a large bundle of fresh, bright green grass or rice stalks balanced on their head, with their clothes and hands soiled from fieldwork. — The EU provides nutrition and healthcare services in Madagascar’s remotest areas.
© European Union, 2024 (photographer: Peter Biro)

Education

The EU supports actions to ensure the continuation of education in humanitarian crises by providing safe learning spaces and adequate education programmes for children in areas affected by violence and displacement.

Cash transfers

The swift provision of EU humanitarian aid through emergency cash transfers to vulnerable people affected by disasters protects them from having to sell their possessions when food runs out.

Disaster preparedness

Regionally, the EU supports disaster preparedness, and €28 million was allocated in 2024 and 2025 in response to the El Nino induced drought in:

Angola, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Additional EU humanitarian aid was also mobilised to support Mozambique and Madagascar following floods and cyclones at the beginning of 2026. The EU emergency response also included deploying rapid aid via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and its Humanitarian Air Bridge operations in both countries.

The EU supports actions involving urban preparedness, anticipatory action, epidemic preparedness and regional disaster risk management programmes. Preparedness and prompt action can: