World News for Students of English

23-03-2022 15:00

Four years of the worst drought in decades and deforestation have transformed southern Madagascar into dust.

The area was once green and fertile; now it is red and with only a few precious trees remained to slow the wind. People plant and cultivate seeds; however, strong winds blow them away, and insects eat anything that remains.

More than a million of people are starving, and they need food from the World Food Program. According to officials, the deterioration of the environment is the main cause of these problems, and scientists warned that droughts would increase. Scientists have already observed rising dryness; it is a strong contrast to Madagascar’s global image as a natural paradise with one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. However, the reality has changed, and Madagascar may have the world’s first climate change famine.

Difficult words:  deterioration (the process of becoming worse), diverse ecosystem (a place with many types of animals and plants can live), famine (when there’s not enough food for a great number of people).

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