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Economic and Social Council
Topic: ​The effects of a resource shortage following the South African drought
Director:​ Richard Husemann
Moderator:​ Balbina Morales
I. Committee Background
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the six primary organs of the
United Nations. Its main purpose is to coordinate the diverse economic, social, cultural,
educational, and health programs of the UN. To do this, the council works close together with
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), occasionally inviting them to their meetings in order
to gain insight on pending problems occurring across the world. Additionally, in order to
properly address every single topic, this council divides itself into a series of commissions that
specializes on specific areas of social development. The commissions on Human Rights,
Sustainable Development, and Narcotic Drugs are all examples of the agencies that ECOSOC
counts with. Contrary to how many organs function, ECOSOC has no binding resolution;
meaning that they are passed on to the General Assembly to serve as recommendations for all
countries to adopt. Member countries are elected to serve in three-year terms by the General
Assembly, and are chosen strategically to achieve full regional representation. The Council
meets once a year, during a six week long session held in either Geneva or New York. During
these meetings, voting procedures are done by a simple majority of votes, each state having a
single one.
II. Introduction
Description and Definition of the Topic
A drought is defined as a below-average rate of precipitation over an extended period of
time which, in turn, causes water shortage in a certain activity, in the environment, or in a
community. A country struck by drought can be impacted heavily in three different areas: those
being economic, environmental, and social. Furthermore, droughts have proven to be an
extremely deadly natural disaster, with over 11 million deaths and 2 billion lives impacted by it
(Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) since 1900. Additionally, droughts
can negatively impact nations whose economy is primarily driven by agriculture. In said
countries, most of the population is employed in the agricultural or pastoral sectors—jobs that
largely depend on a steady supply of rainfall. A significant example of the gruesome effects of a
drought can be seen in the aftermath of the 1984 Sub-Saharan African drought. The GDPs of
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Ethiopia, Mali, and Niger consequently fell by 7 percent, 9 percent, and 18 percent, respectively
(Benson and Clay, 1994). Countries have had to endure terrible conditions such as economic
failure, unemployment, water shortage, and starvation after the drought.
In 2015, South Africa, Africa’s 3rd largest economy (powered largely by service work),
was struck by the worst drought to hit the region ever since 1982. This was partly due to the
occurrence of ‘El Niño’, a natural phenomenon that increases the sea surface temperature in the
central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Across the country, more than 2.7 million homes
are experiencing water shortage. Agricultural employment decreased by 37,000 in the fourth
quarter of 2015, while factory jobs decreased by 36,000—both contributing to South Africa’s
24.5% unemployment rate (Bloomberg, 2016); consumer inflation has ballooned to 6.2 percent;
50,000 South Africans have been pushed below the poverty line; and deaths by heatstroke have
become increasingly common, killing 11 people in one week in January 2016 (IB Times).
Despite this, the South African government has failed to properly give relief funds to its citizens,
providing only R449.2 million ($32 million USD), when, in reality, over 12.5 billion Rands are
required to give citizens proper relief. The South African drought has proven itself a
consequential natural disaster, dealing a heavy blow to one of Africa’s most developed nations.
The Problem
Droughts have shown to be one of the most notorious threats that stem from global
warming. Drought relief failures and poor forecasting are some of the main reasons why
droughts can potentially fatally affect nations. For example, in the Horn of Africa drought,
during 2011 and 2012, about 13 million lives were affected because of poor drought prevention
(The Guardian).
Throughout the past two years, South Africa has been dealing with a substantially
consequential drought. Besides the evident consequences the drought has brought, a problem of
substantial concern is that the phenomenon could have not been prevented. Because of this,
many South African provinces have now declared a state of disaster, and those provinces who
haven’t are struggling to deal with the negative impact that the drought has brought to the
country. Resources related to cattle, food, water, and hygiene have both become scarce and
inflated in price. Those most affected are the people from South Africa’s poor, rural agricultural
sector – a group of people often ignored by both national and international relief funds.
Countries surrounding South Africa, such as Zimbabwe and Namibia, have also been profoundly
impacted by the South African drought and have even less economic power to recover from it. It
is imperative that a global effort is encouraged in relation to the South African drought, due to
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the fact that a failure to do so could easily lead to economic and humanitarian downfall in both
South Africa and countries who associate with it.
The global average of annual precipitation is 990 mm (39 in); in comparison, South
Africa only receives 495 mm of precipitation per year. Despite this, South Africa uses 61.8%
more water than the world average. Additionally, about 40% of South Africa’s portable water is
lost through inefficient water consumption and illegal connections (South African Government,
2015). A heavy usage of water, combined with the fact that South Africa is a very dry country,
leaves the nation in a vulnerable position—regarding the country’s economy, primarily due to
the inflating price of water and the agricultural sector. The South African government has
acknowledged their responsibility to reduce the social and economic impact that this drought is
having in their country (South African Government, 2015) and it is with that responsibility that
the government looks to encounter a solution for this devastating problem.
Currently, no organization or delegation has accepted responsibility for creating or
managing a global body that can focus on the necessary precautions for droughts, which is what
experts in the field say is necessary (The Guardian). A drought, as it is, cannot be prevented at
all, but precautions can be taken; the problem is that the best technology and resources that the
world currently possesses are not enough to stop a drought, but can help minimizing its effects.
III. History of the Topic
Chronological History of the Topic
South Africa is one of the countries with a below average rainfall per year. Fittingly, the
country is having its driest 30 years in history. However, 30 years ago South Africa’s population
was about 20 million less than its current population, therefore the drought wasn’t a major
issue. This is the first serious drought that South Africa has faced, and with this in mind, is
unprepared for an issue of this degree. South Africa is seeking the support from other countries
who have dealt with a similar situation in the past.
One of the earlier known cases of harmful droughts was the ‘Dust Bowl’ in the United
States. This drought occurred during the years of 1931-1939, which was around the time of the
Great Depression. Besides the unavailability of agricultural practices, the drought came with
enormous waves of dust which turned the sky dark and entered people’s lungs, putting them at
risk of having health issues in the future. This drought killed more than 6,000 people in the
United States.
In a similar manner, by the middle of World War II, one of the worst droughts in decades
hit a Chinese region—struck by heavy winds and hailstorms. The agricultural output of the
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region dropped to nearly a quarter of the normal output. Additionally, that small amount of food
produced went to the soldiers. About 3 million Chinese died from starvation that year.
The United States was hit by another drought in the Northern Great Plains from 1987 to
1989. As an effect, important agricultural products like corn and soybean struggled to grow with
the low rainfall. As well, many heat waves and forest fires hit the region in the summer of 1988
when about 1.2 million acres of the Yellowstone National Park caught fire and the government
had to close the entire park for the first time. Researchers later estimated that the cost of this
three-year drought was up to $39 billion, marking it the most expensive U.S. natural disaster up
to that point. (Greenspan, 2015)
Syria has had one of the most recent and significant droughts, which endured from 2006
to 2010. As farming fields died from scarce water resource, many Syrian farmers fled to other
cities where they could grow their livestock. Unfortunately for them, the government was
unsympathetic and cut their food and energy subsidies. The farmers were devastated so they
joined protests against the government, which heightened the Syrian civil war.
Currently, the United States may be entering their third drought complication, now
centered in the region of California. The yearly rainfall in California has been rapidly decreasing
over the course of the last 2 years. Having already suffered from two droughts, the United States
is now, through the use of technology, improving their water conservation effectiveness to help
prevent another drought disaster.
None of these earlier drought disasters involved South Africa, and yet the African
country could benefit from these mentioned countries’ experience. The South African food crisis
has now come to be the the most serious food crisis since the one that happened in Somalia
during the years 1991 to 1992 (The Telegraph). Though the past few years, the “El Niño”
phenomenon has caused great problems in the South African region and it is crucial that South
Africa focuses not only on the impact that it is having in their economy, but on ways to prevent
another crisis as this one in the future.
Historical Case Studies
Great Famine of 1876-78
Whenever a drought hits a country, a famine is sure to follow right after. In 1876, back
when India was still under the control of the British empire, the country was struck by great
drought – and, as a consequence, a great famine. India’s weather is dominated by the wind
system known as the Asiatic Monsoon, and a disruption of generous rains during monsoon
season tends to bring disastrous consequences to the nation of India. The great famine began
with monsoons failing to supply an adequate amount of rain in both 1876 and 1877; bringing
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India to a period of long drought: one that spread from Deccan, to Cape Comorin, to the entirety
of northern India. When the drought initially proved harmful, in 1886, peasant farmers in India
were distraught to realise that their crops would not be hydrated at the level required for
efficient selling. Basically, the peasants lost their means of production. Britain’s reaction was of
little help: the empire simply required those who sought relief from the drought to partake in
heavy labor, a task that often resulted in death, and fed them food with practically no caloric
value​. The loss of crops lead to eventual financial desperation, with many farmers selling “the
frames of their doors and windows” ​(Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the
Making of the Third World) to manage survival. Even a glimmer of hope—a dribble of rain
during April and May of 1877—was mere mockery to a majority of peasants, who were already in
such conditions that they could not take advantage of the returning water.
Because of the drought and the famine that came with it, grain prices doubled, cholera
began to run rampant, and an already high body count was only increasing. As all of this
occurred, the Great British Empire continued to export high amounts of food from India. As
their Indian subjects starved, Britain held a banquet to honor the coronation of Queen Victoria
—a banquet that fed over 60,000 people. It was a combination of nature’s merciless nature and
Britain’s apathetic view towards its colonies that lead to an estimated 5.5 million deaths – a
tragedy greater than anything that had struck India before it.
Northern Chinese Famine of 1876-79
In 1876 China suffered through a terrible drought. It began by striking five northern
districts in Shantung, each with 15 to 25 million inhabitants (Paul Richard). The beginnings of
the drought sound quite familiar: three years of sparse rainfall and a lack of water in the Yellow
River leading to eventual catastrophic crop failure. The Qing state’s power had also recently
become far weaker than what it used to be—as it once held enough power to distribute grain
amongst its citizens should a drought appear to make way for potential famine. As the state’s
political grip appeared to weaken, so did its ability to prevent famine; generating a result of
rebellions in the 1850s. In the 1870s, practically all grain distribution was run by local elites—a
structure far more inefficient than the Qing state’s former powerful granary distribution system.
It was this that allowed for the drought to truly take a toll on the Chinese population, having a
tremendous impact on its rural sector of the population. An inability to gather necessities for
survival lead to profound desperation in terms of food: many citizens ate grass and roots—a
meal that led to sickness and potential death. When winter came, disease became increasingly
common in the Shantung area. Its citizens, in a desperate attempt to survive the season, fled to
neighboring provinces; hid in underground pits; sold themselves into slavery and prostitution;
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and eventually turned to cannibalism (Timothy Richard). Human flesh was openly sold in the
streets, and mass burials became a daily routine. Although Shantung was clearly the area most
affected by the famine and drought, sections in Shansi, Shensi, Honan, and Chihli were also
affected. Relief efforts were ineffective for a vast amount of reasons: the drought causing major
economic dislocation, China’s population more than doubling since the mid-eighteenth century,
and the Taiping Rebellion destroying a large amount of China’s most fertile agricultural areas.
Foreign relief was also an unwelcome sight. Due to China’s mistrust of the west, any
attempts to help that came from the west were sharply denied by China’s government. It was
believed that any aid that came from the ‘outside’ would eventually lead to an uptick in Chinese
rebellion. Despite this, the Westerners and the Chinese had to work together eventually because
of the great state of desperation China found itself in. China’s weakened government, large
population, and unfortunate weather eventually lead to the deaths of 9.5 to 13 million people.
Dust Bowl Drought
During the 1930s eastern areas of the Great Plains, where wheat cropping had become a
particularly profitable mean of farming, were struck by drought. A tremendous shortage in
terms of precipitation would often not be enough to stop American farmers; their prairie grasses
could survive drought. However, the newly popular planted wheat could not sustain itself amidst
drought, leading to shriveled wheat and water, and exposing crops to the winds. With this came
the dust storms. These were periods marked by a heavy erosion of wind, often blocking visibility
to less than a mile (Columbia University). Thousands of citizens were killed because of ‘dust
pneumonia’, a condition where the lungs would fill up with dirt and eventually cease to function.
It was these ‘dust bowls’ that eventually lead to over three million people leaving their farms on
the Great Plains, and over half a million people migrating to other states.
Unlike many other droughts, the Dust Bowl was something that was largely predictable.
The farmer’s decision to plow land in order to plant wheat is, in great part, what eventually lead
to the dust bowl. It was an overall lack of experience that lead to great failure in the Dust Bowl,
a drought that is still seen as a great tragedy in American history.
1983-1985 Famine in Ethiopia
In 1983, northern regions of Ethiopia began to experience a lack of rainfall, hinting at the
possibility of drought. This was further emphasised by the fact that 5 provinces in the country
hit the lowest rates they had ever had for precipitation in 1984. As it is typical for droughts, it
was crop failure that eventually brought forward the true effects of both the drought and the
famine that came with it. Due to crop failure, food shortage became something extremely
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common in the country, and grain prices increased by 300% (University of South Carolina). The
government attempted to relocate Ethiopians in a somewhat hasty manner, bringing its
northern citizens to the south. Along with this, the government encouraged the idea of having its
citizens live in planned communities—areas where services would be more common. It is
important to realise that both of these methods were largely unpopular and considered to be
ineffective. Initially, efforts for international aid proved effective when the British Broadcasting
Corporation reported on the deep damage of the disaster. Various NGOs began to send aid to
Ethiopia, including Band-Aid, Live-Aid, and USA for Africa. As the famine was ending, over 6
million people were fully dependent on food aid to survive. Despite this, the government held
somewhat of a monopoly over international aid, and refused to give any relief food to rebel held
areas during the famine. This has now become a standard way to distribute aid in countries
undergoing deep political conflict.
These rebel-held areas were a consequence of Ethiopia’s civil war, where Marxist soldiers
successfully overthrew the government. Despite the new government’s initial attempts to
stabilize the famine, heavy reforms and apathy became commonplace by the 70s, and the
government was completely inefficient by the 80s. It was only with international aid that
Ethiopian citizens managed to find some level of relief, but even then, the death toll was of over
200,000.
Past UN Actions
The South African Development Community, also known as the SADC, declared a
drought emergency on July 26, 2016. This regional emergency called for action and
humanitarian aid from the UN Food Agricultural Organization (FAO). The SADC established an
‘El Niño Logistics and Coordination Team’, in which UN agents are currently participating. With
the assistance of the SADC the UN has successfully developed the Regional Inter-Agency
Standing Committee (RIASCO) action plan to facilitate drought assistance specifically in seven
countries: Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and most
importantly South Africa.
This emergency action plan objective is composed of three pillars: the humanitarian
response, building resilience in the region, and macroeconomic risk management options
(unocha.org). Although its main purpose right now is to improve assistance of humanitarian aid,
it is crucial that economic measures are implemented with the purpose of having a response
system during a crisis like this one. With the RIASCO action plan, South Africa and other
governments are encouraged to come together in helping to provide humanitarian aid to those
in risk by working with humanitarian agencies. The plans for providing food during lean season,
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the time when there is lack of rainfall near the start of 2017, are being put into place to target the
urgent need of humanitarian aid.
There have already been two UN related meetings this year regarding the South African
drought crisis. The first was held in Namibia on August 2016 in which the topic of African
drought dominated the conversation. Together with African countries, the RIASCO and UN
urged the Strategic Framework approach for the adoption of the drought risk management
system and the improvement of South African resilience upon this situation. The meeting also
established a team in Africa, under the leadership of the African Union Commission, to organize
the operations necessary for the Strategic Framework. The topics of vulnerability: migration
measures, drought information, and social and economic obstacles also sparked conversation
during the August meeting. The second conference was held in London on the month of October
where the focus came to the neglected drought in South Africa. This conference reassembled
donors of the RIASCO Action Plan to re-establish the urgency of assistance in the drought
region. The main objectives discussed during this meeting were: emphasizing the importance of
a multi-sectoral approach, the need to improve food production with the use of climate resistant
crops, the strong economic need for investments, the need for mobility on international support,
and the call for action on guiding efforts for resilience. Through these two meetings, the
challenges that arise from responding to drought disasters were noted, and it's only with data
and analysis that those challenges will be defeated.
By the start of November 2016, the UN had successfully helped assist the seven priority
countries who are affected by the “El Niño” phenomenon. The UN and RIASCO organization
have responded to more than 350,000 people in need of humanitarian aid because of this
drought. Although these numbers may seem vigorous, they are a small percentage of the lives
being affected by the disaster.
IV. Key Players and Points of View
South Africa
Many countries in the South African region are being negatively affected by the “El
Niño” phenomenon and out of all of them, the most notable country is South Africa, which is the
country that brought the issue to major international concern. South Africa is the most
industrialized and populous country that has been stricken by this drought issue; however, their
economical advancements are not enough to secure the health of their citizens during this lean
season. The lack of rainfall throughout the past years has forced the South African Development
Community to declare a regional state of emergency as of July 26, 2016.
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Since the start of this lean season, South Africa's economy has weakened across the country. By
now, millions of South African homes are experiencing a water shortage, and more than 50,000
South Africans have been pushed below the poverty line. Agricultural and factory employment
has also had a significant decrease and now contributes to an unemployment rate of 24.%.
Among other things, the citizens health and education has also been weakening because of the
South African regional drought.
It is with all this in mind that South African citizens are in an urgent need of receiving
humanitarian aid. As mentioned in a previous section, a total of over 12.5 billion Rands are
required to properly relieve South African Citizens of their struggle. Nevertheless, the South
African government has only been able to provide about a third of those funds. For its
importance in the African continent, it is crucial that South Africa receive enough international
aid to boost their economy back to normal.
Swaziland
Although South Africa is the main focus in the drought crisis, Swaziland has also been
endangered by this issue. The Swaziland government declared a state of emergency on February
18, 2016, and has been one of the most affected and hard hit countries following the South
African drought. Do to the lack of rainfall in the region, in 2015-2016 over one fourth of
Swaziland’s population was presented with the issue of finding sufficient amount of food. This
lack of rainfall began to strike Swaziland during the 2014-2015 agricultural season and has
continued ever since, resulting in a crop loss and low maize production.
The South African drought, has had a greater impact on Swaziland than people think.
From the 2014-2015 agricultural season to the 2015-2016 agricultural season the area planted
has decreased by 47 percent. This decrease in production led 50,000 people to be in the need of
food assistance and, according to the Crop and Food Security Assessment, 75 percent of the
population mentioned a decrease in their food stocks. Additionally, 28 percent of water supplies
have been nonfunctional and as the drought worsens, more water systems have been lacking a
proper amount of water. The South African drought affected 78 percent of primary and
secondary schools, accounting for 189,000 students and 8,200 teachers (reliefweb.int).
When speaking about the health and hygiene of the Swaziland population, there is an
increase in the risk of a widespread disease outbreak. This water crisis greatly affects the
children in Swaziland. 13.6 percent of the affected population is under the age of 5 and are in
great risk of malnutrition or food scarcity. Swaziland’s health facilities have also noticed an
increase in health issues during the past two years of drought season. While South Africa may be
the most notable African country affected by the drought crisis, it is of utmost importance that
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fundings are invested in Swaziland to improve the country’s health care, and drought
management.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe declared itself to be in a state of emergency on February 5th, 2015. Despite
South Africa’s role as the country who brought the 2015 drought to the public eye, it can be said
that poorer countries – such as Zimbabwe – have been just as struck by the great tragedy. In
Zimbabwe, five million people – which is half of the country's rural population – needed
assistance in 2016 (Al Jazeera). The country has been claimed to be in a state of emergency, and
many of the country’s citizens have been attempting to trade with people from other nations.
Overall, Zimbabwe has been struck by the South African drought practically just as badly as
South Africa – but finds itself with far less raw economic and social power than the
aforementioned country.
Another after-effect of the drought in a country as poor as Zimbabwe is increased
pressure for children to structure themselves financially. It has become commonplace for girls to
sell themselves for sex and for boys to go gold-panning in other countries, including in South
Africa. Students are fainting while practicing after-school sports or when attempting to study
(The Guardian). Food insecurity levels have spread along in the year when the drought
established itself as a legitimate threat, with practically all of the country in a state of crisis in
regards to food availability. The labor force in Zimbabwe comprises of 66% agricultural workers,
which is a number far higher than that of South Africa.
Essentially, despite South Africa’s great suffering in regards to the drought, it is
profoundly important to also take countries just as badly affected who started off in profoundly
weak economic situations – such as Zimbabwe.
United States
In the past, the United States Agency for International Aid has focused a vast majority of
its efforts on the reconstruction in areas close to the southern African continent, and has
previously helped South Africa on the basis of food relief. However, in relation to the 2015-2016
drought, international aid – despite being heavily sought after by Southern Africans – has been
relatively scarce. The fact is, all southern African nations that are currently seeking international
aid due to the drought are looking for billions of dollars. To bring such heavy relief would be a
tremendous burden to any country interested in attempting to even begin to comply to the lofty
aid request of many countries.
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However, the importance of international aid cannot be understated – and the United
States, as a global powerhouse with a reputation for international intervention, could potentially
be a key ally to Southern African states currently undergoing great suffering. Should the US wish
to cooperate, however, it must be willing to consider its large debt and often inefficient methods
when it comes to international aid. Really, South Africa and its surrounding countries are
currently in a state of flat-out crisis, and to ignore that reality as a financially stable country
could be considered ethically irresponsible.
What the United States – and other financially stable countries – must come to consider
is the delicate balance between the responsibility they hold towards their own citizens and the
responsibility they hold towards the international community.
V. Possible Solutions
As technology advances, so does the ability to address droughts efficiently;
environmental engineering being a large contributor to the resolution of droughts. For example,
large-scale desalination holds deep promise for nations at risk of drought. These facilities pump
ocean water into a treatment facility, where reverse osmosis makes the water fit for drinking and
other domestic activities—basically, filtering ocean water. This allows populations to easily
gather water during a drought, seeing as droughts typically only endanger fresh water. However,
desalination facilities use a significant amount of energy, and are expensive to install and
maintain. If delegations attempt to implement desalination facilities, they must be prepared to
find means to make such a resource financially feasible. A somewhat ambitious resolution is fog
catching—large nets that gather fog and condense it into water. This has been successful in
towns like the Andes and in Chile’s Atacama Desert. Unfortunately, this technology is expensive
and undergoing further development, which means funding is vital. Another possibility is
groundwater drilling. This entails drilling aquifers (underground reservoirs made up of surface
water) in the same way that oil is drilled. While efficient and full of potential, underground
drilling is very difficult to regulate, as this process leads to large corporations pumping great
amounts, culminating to aquifer depletion. Wastewater recycling also appears to be
viable—treating wastewater and turning it into fresh water. While wastewater recycling holds
large benefits with very little drawback, it is rather expensive to implement. Additionally,
man-made lakes could help provide people with drinking water as well as water for irrigation in
drought-prone areas. Electric water pumps can help fill up this “water reservoir”, which can be
distributed to those affected. The reality is any technology based resolution implies a large
financial burden. As previously mentioned, the Southern African drought suffers deeply from a
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lack of funding—international cooperation is key for smooth implementation of the
aforementioned resolutions.
However, it is important to realize that the issues brought upon by the Southern African
drought go far beyond a lack of water. Economic help is drastically needed, and lost jobs must be
recuperated. In order to do this, programs that focus on job building may be necessary.
Furthermore, NGOs and UN-based organizations that focus on immediate health relief should
be called upon, as the death toll in the Southern African drought has been quite large.
Any viable solution to the Southern African drought must take both the social,
environmental, and economic impacts the drought has had. Strictly, financial aid appears to be
practically necessary. All nations must take into consideration what it implies to burden
themselves financially, and largely take this into account when discussing potential solutions to
this issue. Finally, it is vital for solutions to be both immediate and effective for the long-term, as
the potential to avoid potential future droughts would be enormous.
VI. Current Status
Currently, 5 municipalities in the Western Cape of South Africa have been declared local
disaster areas as the country continues to fight one one of the worst droughts in its history.
Government officials say that dam water levels have dropped up to 64% not only in these 5
municipalities, but in the whole Western Cape. Although water restrictions have been placed by
local governments and awareness programs to save water have been enforced, authorities can’t
completely ensure that this issue will be solved. Additionally, Cape Town has been classified as a
medium risk municipality with ‘level three’ water restrictions taking place, prohibiting the use of
hose pipes in the area to save water. Thankfully, the government says the issue is not yet critical,
but residents have been urged to intensify water-saving efforts so that the agricultural sector is
not affected as much in the future.
Furthermore, hunger season in Zimbabwe has peaked, with 4.1 million people in rural
areas being “food insecure” for the time of January-March 2017 due to the droughts. Although
Zimbabwe is one of the most affected nations, almost 40 million people will suffer
consequences throughout the Southern African region in all areas including rural and urban
dwellers. The UN and government agencies continue to work with these nations to minimize
drought effects as much as possible, as well as to stop and prevent future famine. Also, non
governmental organizations such as the Drought Disaster Fund and Agri SA have been working
to prevent this as well. Delayed rainfall and unusually high temperatures will continue to befall
the Southern African region.
AVE. MORONES PRIETO
1500 • SANTA CATARINA, N.L. MÉXICO 66190
TELEPHONE: (81) 8288-4400 • FAX: (81) 8288-4455
www.immuns.org
International Monterrey
Model United Nations Simulation
American School Foundation of Monterrey
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AVE. MORONES PRIETO
1500 • SANTA CATARINA, N.L. MÉXICO 66190
TELEPHONE: (81) 8288-4400 • FAX: (81) 8288-4455
www.immuns.org
International Monterrey
Model United Nations Simulation
American School Foundation of Monterrey
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AVE. MORONES PRIETO
1500 • SANTA CATARINA, N.L. MÉXICO 66190
TELEPHONE: (81) 8288-4400 • FAX: (81) 8288-4455
www.immuns.org
International Monterrey
Model United Nations Simulation
American School Foundation of Monterrey
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AVE. MORONES PRIETO
1500 • SANTA CATARINA, N.L. MÉXICO 66190
TELEPHONE: (81) 8288-4400 • FAX: (81) 8288-4455
www.immuns.org