In recent years, drought has become one of the main global threats , causing serious problems in food production, water supply, and the global economy. Since 2023, regions around the world have experienced episodes of persistent drought with unprecedented humanitarian, economic, and environmental consequences, according to reports coordinated by international organizations such as the UN, the Convention to Combat Desertification, and specialized scientific centers.
International experts underscore the gravity of the situation : water scarcity is no longer temporary or localized, but has become a chronic threat that advances silently and affects both developed countries and vulnerable communities. The consequences not only impact agriculture and livestock farming, but also energy production, public health, and social stability, especially in areas considered hotspots.
Affected regions: uneven impact and knock-on effects
The global report produced by the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), the UN, and the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) focuses on Africa, the Mediterranean basin, Latin America, and much of Asia as the hardest-hit areas. More than 90 million people in East and Southern Africa are at risk of famine or displacement due to the combination of drought and conflict. In countries like Zimbabwe , the staple maize harvest plummeted by 70%, while Zambia experienced critically low river levels, triggering massive power outages due to insufficient water for hydroelectric plants. Climate change is intensifying the severity of droughts.
In the Mediterranean basin , the effects have been evident in crop losses—with a 50% drop in olive oil production in Spain—, the reduction of livestock in Morocco, and the appearance of sinkholes in Turkey due to the overexploitation of aquifers. Southern Europe and North Africa are also suffering from record heat waves and a significant decrease in water reserves, jeopardizing food security and driving up the prices of basic goods.
In Latin America , the Amazon has recorded record low river flows, with serious ecological and social consequences such as the mass die-off of endangered fish and dolphins, as well as disruptions to the supply of drinking water. Global transport and trade have been affected by reduced traffic through the Panama Canal, a key waterway for international maritime trade, due to the lack of water. The change in local conditions is affecting cloud formation and rainfall.
Southeast Asia has not escaped this crisis either: production of key crops such as rice, sugar, and coffee has fallen sharply, driving up prices and exacerbating food security problems. Furthermore, saltwater intrusion in deltas like the Mekong has left thousands of families without drinking water.
El Niño and climate change: drivers of extreme drought
One of the factors that has exacerbated the severity of recent droughts is the convergence of El Niño with global warming . In 2023 and 2024, global temperatures reached record highs, prolonging dry periods and intensifying water evaporation from soils and reservoirs. This directly impacts already vulnerable crops and ecosystems.
Furthermore, global warming is altering rainfall patterns and increasing the frequency of extreme events, such as "precipitation whipsaws"—abrupt shifts between extreme drought and flooding—which hinder agricultural adaptation and natural resource management. The anticyclone and its influence on droughts and extreme temperatures.
Social and economic repercussions: the most vulnerable, the most affected
The drought crisis has a highly unequal social impact . Women, children, subsistence farmers, and the elderly are among the most vulnerable groups. In East Africa, the increase in forced marriages, especially of girls, is linked to the loss of economic resources in affected families. There has also been an increase in malnutrition and school dropout rates.
Health risks are multiplying with the emergence of outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, acute malnutrition, and limited access to clean water. On the environmental front, the mortality of wildlife is alarming: from elephants in Zimbabwe to river dolphins in the Amazon and hippos in Botswana, drought threatens biodiversity itself.
The economic consequences are also significant. The cost of droughts has doubled since 2000 and is estimated to increase by up to 110% in the next decade if no measures are taken. Among the most notable losses are the decline in agricultural productivity, power outages, rising commodity prices, and high expenditures on infrastructure and public health.
