STORY: More than half of Zimbabwe's population will need food aid this year, the country's cabinet heard late on Tuesday (May 15).

That's after a devastating drought that led to widespread crop failure.

According to the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee, six million people in rural areas and 1.7 million in urban areas will require assistance.

The country is among the worst-hit by the El Nino-induced drought in Southern Africa.

The government says it is the worst drought in 40 years.

The latest crop assessment put maize production down by 77% in the 2023/2024 summer season.

Zimbabwe has also failed to feed itself since 2000, when former president Robert Mugabe led land reforms which disrupted production.

Climate change has made matters worse.

Last month a local consortium of private millers said it is planning to import 1.4 million metric tons of white and yellow maize from Brazil and other countries to cover the food deficit.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appealed for $2 billion in food aid.

Meanwhile the United Nations and the U.N.'s Children's Fund are also calling for financial assistance to save millions from hunger.