Famine is typically the result of conflict, war and isolated weather events but Southern Madagascar is on the brink of facing the world’s first ‘climate change famine’. For a country that has only used .01% of the world’s annual carbon emission in the last 8 decades due to not having electricity or cars, Madagascar is facing the very worst e ects of climate change. David Muir was one of very few permitted to travel to Southern Madagascar, where he witnessed the devasting e ects of climate change firsthand. Although Madagascar is prone to drought, this is the worst it has faced in 4 decades. The climate has changed so drastically in the past 4 years leaving rivers completely dried up and food resources depleted. Muir stood in a river that was once up to his waist but had become nothing but a few minimal pockets of water over the course of a year. People traveled for hours to reach these few drops of water to take care of their families, some traveling 3 hours or even more. The food insecurity has been rated the highest internationally at level 5, with over 30,000 people currently su ering. Crops are rare due to the land becoming excessively dry, leading to crop failure. There is concern that the number su ering from this drought will take a sharp increase as the country enters the traditional ‘lean season’ before harvest. The people of Madagascar have nothing to eat, resoriting to meals of locust and cactus, surviving on basically nothing. Food prices have surged rapidly and the few with crops have resorted to sleeping in their fields to protect them, which has become too dangerous. The World Food Program is looking for donations of all quantities to help the people of Southern Madagascar survive this catastrophic crisis. For more information on how to donate and what you can do to decrease your carbon footprint, click here .
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