Drought in the Horn of Africa appears to persist with a sixth conservative failed rainy season, the regional climate body announced on Wednesday.
The regional drought monitoring body warned that, parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda that have been most affected by the recent drought, this could be the 6th failed consecutive rainfall season.
Forecasts for 2023 March to May rainy season points “Depressed rainfall and high temperatures” The regional drought monitoring body warned.
“Even if the general conditions for the season do not look favourable, people can still take advantage of rainfall. This is why I urge all to consult our weekly and monthly forecasts which have a high degree of predictability”. Dr Guleid Artan, ICPAC Director explained.
“Likelihood for drier than normal rainfall is also expected in parts of Rwanda, Burundi, eastern Tanzania, and western South Sudan.
“Wetter than normal conditions are expected over the cross-border areas of Ethiopia and South Sudan, north-western Kenya, and parts of central and southern Tanzania.” ICPAC said in a statement.
According to the draught monitory center, warmer than normal temperatures are likely across the region, particularly over Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, north-western South Sudan, southern and north-eastern Ethiopia, northern Somalia, northern and western Kenya, and parts of south-eastern and western Tanzania.
In the outlook, in the regions severely hit by drought, the current trends are worse than those observed during the drought of 2010-2011.
The Food Security and Nutrition Working Group (FSNWG), co-chaired by IGAD and FAO, estimates that close to 23 million people are currently highly food insecure in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
In view of these grim realities, IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, called for “an immediate scaling-up of humanitarian and risk reduction efforts. National governments, humanitarian and development actors must adopt a no-regret approach before it’s too late”.
