- A drought has affected Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, Angola, and Botswana since January 1, 2026, leading to national drought disaster declarations.
- Drought and poverty in Angola, worsened by El Niño, are causing displacement into Namibia.
WFP assists DRC refugees in Angola amid El Niño-driven drought
What happened
The World Food Programme is providing aid to refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Angola amid an El Niño-driven drought. Angola is a lower-middle-income, food-deficit country grappling with significant economic and climate shocks. The prolonged drought has resulted in below-average harvests, loss of income and assets, and water scarcity, with an estimated 2.2 million people requiring assistance, including 1.8 million who are food insecure.
From wfp.org
Why it matters
Angola faces persistent challenges, including high poverty and a low Human Development Index, and the climate shocks are threatening economic growth and food security. WFP is working with the Government of Angola and partners to support national development and emergency response efforts in the country.
A drought has affected Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, Angola, and Botswana since January 1, 2026, leading to national drought disaster declarations.
From wfp.org
Who's involved
- World Food ProgrammeProvides emergency response and capacity strengthening to address food insecurity.
- AngolaLower-middle-income, food-deficit country facing severe drought and economic shocks.
- Democratic Republic of the CongoCountry of origin for refugees being assisted in Angola.
- government of AngolaChief executive body of Angola, working with WFP on national development.
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- World Food ProgrammeSpeculative
Increased crisis severity could raise the demand for WFP's emergency and livelihood support services.
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The entities involved
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World Food Programme
United Nations branch related to food-assistance
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
country in Central Africa
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Angola
country on the west coast of Southern Africa
Related events
- The South African Weather Service warned of a powerful El Niño, leading to regional food insecurity, while the WFP noted funding collapse impacting aid in Zimbabwe. SADC met in Namibia to discuss the crisis.
- WFP, UNICEF, OCHA, and the Government of Zimbabwe are responding to food insecurity and a declared national state of disaster.
- WFP supports Nepal's emergency response to floods, working with fellow UN partners.
- The World Food Programme (WFP) provided emergency food assistance in the Somali Region and Ethiopia.
- The World Food Programme (WFP) is supporting vulnerable populations in Senegal.