Crisis in Zambia

Zambia: Key facts and figures

• Population: 21.9 Million
• People in need: 5.5 Million
• GDP: US$29.37 Billion
• HDI: Ranked 154/193

On average, around 1.08 million litres of water per second plunge down Victoria Falls. That is equivalent to around 7,200 bathtubs filled with 150 litres of water each. While the vast torrents of water flowing over Victoria Falls are known worldwide, the floods in other regions of Zambia receive little attention.

“I’ve never seen so much rain,” recalls Maik, a farmer. “In the days before the dam burst, it rained continuously. Then there was a loud bang and everything was gone.” The three-meter-high trees on his fields were completely submerged.

In February 2025, another dam burst in northern Zambia. These floods not only swept away houses and fields, but also washed 50 million litres of acidic waste from a copper mine into the Mwambashi River, a vital source of drinking water for millions of people.

Climate resistant corn

The floods destroyed livelihoods. Combined with droughts, pest infestations and rising food prices, this has led to acute food insecurity for more than 1.2 million people - around 12 percent of the population.

“In the last three harvest seasons, I have harvested almost nothing,” said smallholder farmer Buumba. “It’s getting hotter and hotter, and the rain either comes too late or too heavy. There’s no such thing as normal weather anymore.”

Through a CARE project, Buumba planted seeds for orange corn - a more climate-resistant variety rich in vitamin A. “It was the only thing that survived the floods,” she says. “Our white corn is destroyed, but the orange corn saved us.”

Adapting to environmental change

Shifts in climate expectations particularly affect women and older people who depend on agriculture. They are caught between extremes: drought and floods, crop failure and hunger.

Women are increasingly taking the initiative to counteract the effects of environmental changes. “We attended training courses run by CARE and learned how to plant trees, start gardens, and save money,” said Febbie, a farmer. “We use the trees for charcoal, soil improvement, shade, and medicine.”

Adapting to new environmental realities is essential in Zambia, where more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Reforestation protects against soil erosion, gardens secure food and income, and savings groups support financial independence — building long-term resilience.

“We don’t want to give up,” says Buumba. “Our maize fields should still be standing after the floods so that we don’t have to go hungry for weeks again.”

CARE in Zambia

CARE has been active in Zambia since 1992. Together with local and women-led community organizations, CARE works to empower women and girls, with a focus on improving nutrition for mothers and children and strengthening social protection.

CARE also provides support and training in climate-resilient agriculture, water supply, and reforestation. Since 2023, CARE has partnered with the Choma District Women Development Association, which provides humanitarian assistance to crisis-affected communities in Choma District.

How can I help people in Zambia?

Donate now to support CARE's life-saving work in Zambia and around the world. Together, we can help to transform lives across the globe.

Your donation could help provide life-saving aid when disaster strikes, and give women and their communities the resources and opportunities they need to survive and thrive.

Ten forgotten crises

The CARE Crisis Report is published annually and highlights the ten crises that receive the least media attention. In 2025 Zambia ranked as the third least reported crisis in the world.