The Australian Government will provide further support to southern Africa in response to the acute food shortages caused by severe El Niño conditions in the region.

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop has announced that Australia will give another 10-million Australian dollars to the World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver food and nutritional support to 11.9-million drought-affected people in countries in southern Africa.

The Australian High Commission in Pretoria said the worst-hit countries – Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe- would benefit most from the extra aid.

“The current El Niño event has produced the driest growing season in southern Africa in over 35 years, compounding the effects of drought during the previous growing season,” the Australian High Commission in Pretoria said.

“This has left 32-million people in the region without access to adequate food supplies including 2.7-million children who are severely malnourished.

“Australia has been active in the global response to the impact of El Niño, which has also had a devastating impact in the Indo-Pacific.

“Australia’s response has focused on funding lifesaving food, nutritional and livelihoods assistance for countries most affected in the Pacific and South East Asia as well as the Horn of Africa.

“Through its aid program, the Australian Government is also investing in improving preparedness and resilience to climate variability in helping communities prepare for future periods of drought.

“This additional funding brings Australia’s total contribution to 46-million Australian dollars for countries affected by El Niño.”