(Ecofin Agency) - Southern Africa faces severe weather disruptions due to the natural climate phenomenon, El Niño. Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi have experienced the worst droughts in at least forty years, while Tanzania has been hit by deadly torrential rains.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) launched a $5.5 billion aid appeal on May 20 to address the severe droughts and floods brought on by El Niño. According to the bloc, over 61 million people in the region have been affected by these extreme weather conditions. The announcement came after a summit of state leaders focused on combating El Niño's devastating effects.

This year's unprecedented drought in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi has severely impacted crops, water reserves, and electricity supply. The lack of rainfall has raised fears of widespread hunger. Recently, Oxfam estimated that over 20 million people in Southern Africa are facing hunger and malnutrition due to the drought.

In Zambia and Zimbabwe, water shortages have also led to outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases, according to the research group World Weather Attribution. Additionally, heavy rains in Tanzania last month resulted in dozens of casualties.

El Niño is a natural weather phenomenon that occurs irregularly every two to seven years, causing the Pacific Ocean to warm. This results in extreme weather patterns, including heat waves and heavy rains.