2024 Zambian drought

2024 Zambian drought
Country	Zambia
Location	Central Province, Eastern Province, Lusaka Province, North-Western Province, Southern Province and Western Province
Period	January 2024 – present
Theory	severe drought, irregular rainfall

Starting in January 2024, most of Zambia experienced an ongoing drought, considered the worst to hit the country in at least two decades, leading to severe food shortages, water scarcity, and a national emergency declaration. Triggered by an El Niño-induced dry spell, the drought continues to have profound impacts on agriculture, water supply, and food security, affecting over a million children and households across the nation. Zambia's economy and food security are heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture, making the country particularly vulnerable to changes in weather patterns. The 2023-2024 rainy season saw the influence of El Niño, leading to significantly reduced rainfall and the onset of severe drought conditions, which persist to the present day. On 29 February 2024, President Hakainde Hichilema declared the drought a national disaster.