Madagascar on the brink
A perfect storm of drought, deforestation, Covid and banditry is pushing southern parts of Madagascar to the brink of disaster
The remote and barely accessible southern tip of Madagascar, Africa’s largest island nation, is teetering on the brink of famine as the worst drought in 30 years collides with crop-swallowing sand storms, Covid travel restrictions on aid-givers, and hunger-driven banditry.
International emergency medical agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warns that recent figures from Madagascar’s nutrition surveillance system, UN agencies and similar organisations operating in the region suggest 774,000 children in the southern region of the country are "acutely malnourished". Of those, 12,000 have severe malnutrition — "an increase of 80% compared to the last quarter of 2020"...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.