Saturday March 23, 2019
ADDIS ABABA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD) on Friday warned that drought will worsen in parts of
Horn of Africa due to persisting dry conditions and unusually high
temperatures.
"In some parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia persisting drought is
affecting water availability, grazing pastures and food security," the
East African bloc said in a statement on Friday.
According to IGAD, poor October to December rains that followed by
abnormally high temperatures since January are leading to rapid
deterioration of pastoral resources and have started affecting
livelihoods.
Noting that dry conditions are persisting into March, IGAD said that
the tropical cyclone observed across the coast of Mozambique during the
first and second week of March partially contributed to the current dry
conditions.
Areas of concern due to rainfall deficits include southern and
eastern Ethiopia, semi-arid areas in Kenya and Uganda, as well as
northern and eastern Somalia, it was noted.
"In these areas, drought and higher than usual temperatures are
affecting forage and water availability for people, livestock and
wildlife," an IGAD statement read.
The tropical cyclone has affected Uganda by delaying the start of
rains to the end of March, while the dry conditions have "a high
likelihood of affecting maize, bananas and sorghum production in the
country," it was noted.
IGAD, through its Climate Prediction and Applications Centre,
provides regional updates on regular basis while the National
Meteorological and Hydrological Services provides detailed national and
sub-national updates.
The statement also indicated that drought conditions are "likely to worsen during April and May 2019."
"Rainfall deficits are still expected during the month of April,"
IGAD said, adding that areas of concern include the Greater Rift Valley
and northern Somalia.
There is a high chance of drier than usual conditions over western
Kenya, Turkana region, southern and southeastern Ethiopia, central and
northeastern Somalia, coasts of Tanzania and Kenya, much of Uganda and
South Sudan, IGAD said.
"This poses a significant stress on water availability and may worsen the current situation," the statement read.
The East African bloc also urged the provision of water and fodder to
areas affected by the drought to reduce the impacts on lives and
livelihoods.
Health sector actors are also urged to strengthen surveillance,
monitor basic supplies for diagnosis and treatment and improve alert
system to ministries of health and local health facilities.