The famine at the edge of the ocean

Madagascar is experiencing its worst famine for over 30 years. With successive years of drought, this began in the country’s deep south but as successive cyclones hit Madagascar in 2022 and 2023, people in the south-east are now also suffering from food insecurity.

The United Nations has described this as the “world’s first climate-induced famine”. But some climate scientists claim there is little evidence suggesting global warming is the primary cause. So what really is the main driver of this famine? Journalist Raissa Iousouff travels to the south of Madagascar in search of answers and meets many of the local people and communities who are fighting to survive.

Presenter: Raissa Ioussouf
Producer: Charlie Towler
Editor: Sandra Kantha
A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

(Photo: Madagascans struggle through long drought. Locals stand next to a tree in a field covered with red sand in Anjeky Beanatara, Androy region, Madagascar, 11 February, 2022. Credit: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters)