articles about drought in africa

As a. Families are taking . 12 mins ago. South Africa is facing one of the worst droughts to hit the region in 30 years, affecting food production and prices, while many small farmers are expected to go out of business, writes the BBC's . We don't hear as much about the Horn of Africa drought of 2011 these days. Things have stabilized somewhat in Kenya and Ethiopia, the two drought-affected countries where ChildFund works. Failed harvests and food shortages are forcing. Additionally, the drought causes food shortages, leading to famine. Still, the drought in Ethiopia and Kenya extended well into 2012. In 2018, Cape Town narrowly averted Day Zero - a complete shutdown of water supplies - after three years of drought. South Africa is the 30th driest country in the world, and the country has a long history of grappling with droughts. Forecasting and Measuring Drought The Horn of Africa is experiencing one of its worst droughts in recent history, with more than 13 million people severely food insecure in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. However, the link between droughts and climate change is not sufficiently understood. Russia's war with Ukraine and the resultant spike in grain and fuel prices have dealt a severe blow to African nations that were already reeling from the fallout of . Now such groups are moving again as severe drought—the worst in 40 years—unfolds in the east and the Horn of Africa. In a desolate village in Turkana, Northern Kenya, villagers are praying for rain, but it just won't come. East Africa (EA) has been the primary focus for various drought studies in recent years. Some 2.6 million people have been displaced by the . April 1, 2022. Russia's war with Ukraine and the resultant spike in grain and fuel prices have dealt a severe blow to African nations that were already reeling from the fallout of . Since El Nino, a warm . For many farmers in the western part of South Africa, this is the fifth or the sixth . A UN humanitarian official went to the . Sub-Saharan Africa is facing its worst drought in decades, leaving 45 million people threatened with hunger, according to United Nations estimates. A drought during the early 1930s that coincided with the great depression made a deep impression on many policy makers. The outward effects triggered by drought range from its impact on agriculture's contribution to the . In the past two decades since 1990, 12 of those years were defined as drier years compared to only seven years in the previous 20 years. The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) says 13 million people across the Horn of Africa face severe hunger because of continued drought. 2018b) and because it is a region of sharp vegetation, soil moisture and topographic . 2002; Blamey et al. If the April rainy season turns out to be as disappointing as the last three, it will mark the longest drought to hit the region since the 1980s . For the winter-rainfall region of South Africa, the frequency of drought is predicted to increase over the next 100 years, with dire consequences for the vegetation of this . The current drought in East Africa has sent humanitarian agencies scrambling to prevent another famine like the one that hit the same region in 2011 in which an estimated 260,000 people died. Approximately 10.8 million people were facing severe food insecurity in Southern Africa as 2018 came to an end. Climate model simulations analyzed as part of the study revealed that the relationship between sea surface temperatures and atmospheric convection in the Indian Ocean changes rainfall in East Africa. On a national scale, drought in South Africa results in a reduction in the yield of the maize crop with yields falling to below 1 ton per hectare (Fig, 4). Drought has wide-ranging impacts on health, water supply and economic sectors, especially agriculture. February 8, 2022, 8:00 PM PST. Time is fast running out, the UN agency warned, with Somalia facing "the very real risk of famine" in the coming six . Understanding drought risk in South Africa. South Africa is simultaneously at greater risk of both floods and droughts. Food security impacts South Africa in midst of 'epic drought'. April 1, 2022. Wheat is wilting, and cities are planning to ration water, as stretches of North Africa's grain belt suffer the worst drought in 30 years. The 2007 drought saw rainfall totals plummet over the eastern part of South Africa and the enclave nation of Lesotho during the growing season of January, February and March (JFM). Here we investigate trends in long-term agricultural drought and the influence of increasing temperatures and . Here we present a decade-scale reconstruction of rainfall and drought in equatorial east Africa over the past 1,100 years, based on lake-level and salinity fluctuations of Lake Naivasha (Kenya . Southern Africa suffered extensive drought in 2019. Abstract. Droughts are a complex hazard and involve meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and societal changes [13]. Images from the time are still seared in many people's minds, as are the stories of those unable to access food and water in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Djibouti. Locals hope climate-smart agriculture can mitigate future crises. April 6, 2022, 11:53 PM PDT. Rain is scant in Morocco . South Africa Ends State of Disaster Despite Persistent Drought Farmers' lobby group warns move could strain food supply Some farming areas haven't had sufficient rain in seven years Recommendations Drought is natural hazard of South Africa's climate, and it is expected Thus, we deliberately chose two newspapers from two different countries. In the drought-affected regions, the crop is drying fast while the locusts and armyworms are destroying the remaining crop. A fourth failed rain in the Horn of Africa could further exacerbate hunger that's threatening the lives of 13 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, the U.N . Even though in this case there may still be some rainfall, there may not be enough to sustain life. The drought inhibits vegetation to grow and cause a decrease in . Despite this, the impact of drought on outbreaks has been largely understudied. Some 3.5 million people are suffering from starvation. Up to 20 million people could go hungry this year as delayed rains worsen extreme drought in the Horn of Africa region amid a shortfall in humanitarian aid, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on. Africa. With increasing temperatures, there is an a priori assumption that droughts are becoming more severe. For example, in the 21st century alone there have been severe drought events on every continent, such as the 2010 Russian Drought [4], the 2011 Horn of Africa Drought [5], the 2013-2014 California . Joice Etutu & Alexandra Ostasiewicz - BBC News, Turkana. It also aims to predict drought events for 100 years. East Africa is suffering a serious drought. According to a recent update on the drought issued by Mr. Omar's office, an estimated one million livestock have also died across 10 drought-affected zones in Somali Region. Africa Africa's drought crisis: Zimbabwe seeks solutions, Madagascar edges toward famine. Millions of people are facing humanitarian catastrophe as drought continues to grip the Horn of Africa. Drought is no longer classified as a national disaster in South Africa, a decision that has sparked outcry from the country's farmers. The Mann-Kendall's test and Sen's slope estimator were . In South Africa, another country with a leading economy in Africa, drought has had a devastating effect on agricultural production, costing farmers millions of rands [ 9 ]. Confounded by Covid . During almost two decades, beginning in the early 1970s, the Horn of Africa was racked by the ravages of hunger and war. Humanitarian Aid. The rains came. Drought is becoming an on-going reality. However, a comprehensive analysis of droughts, including their evolution, complexity, social implications and people's vulnerability is currently lacking. Crop production has been wiped out in some areas. Mark New, University of Cape Town; Friederike Otto, University of Oxford, and Piotr Wolski, University of Cape Town . The scenarios project a general increase in the drought coverage, and depending on the scenarios and seasons the percentage of drought area may increase up to 90% in the year 2100. Emergency food deliveries are planned for regions. Lennox Mabaso, spokesperson for the Department of local government in KwaZulu . The alert level was reduced to the Orange-1.7 by 12 December . Drought has been cited as a prime catalyst in contributing to significant historical changes. At a national level, drought ripples across sectors and impacts on a range of activities. The climatic phenomenon known as La Niña is preventing nourishing rains for the fourth season in a row, putting East Africa on the . Further analyses were conducted to project the drought scenarios into the future. Flooding also affected the Sahel and surrounding areas from May to October 2019. The Greater Horn of Africa, at the boundary of the Sahel in north-eastern Africa, encompasses three countries: Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. Poverty is increasing due to the drought, since agriculture is often the biggest source of income in Africa. As droughts worsen across Africa, troubling times lie ahead for many countries. The current drought is the effect of a sustained below-average monthly rainfall series since 2015, which intensified in the last wet season (April to September 2017). NAIROBI, Kenya — First came the drought, drying up rivers, and claiming the lives of two of Ruqiya Hussein Ahmed's children as her family fled the barren . Drought and locusts destroyed crops in the northern Ethiopian provinces of Tigray and Eritrea again in 1987, and the UN World Food Program estimated that as many as 3 million inhabitants were put at risk of starvation and death (Mackenzie 1987a). Livestock across the region are in poor health, and many more are expected to perish from increases in disease during the upcoming rainy season. South Africa's grain farmers are currently battling with dry conditions in the main part of South Africa's maize belt, where crop plantings have been delayed beyond the optimum planting weather due to the drought. As of mid-August 2019, the drought is classified as a level 2 Red-Class event by the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System. In Eswatini, the estimated number of people facing Crisis (IPC phase 3) or worse . May 17, 2022, 4:53 AM PDT. Lessons from African Droughts in the 1990s. Somalia and Ethiopia are classified by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) as least developed (low income) countries; Kenya recently obtained status as a lower-middle income . Hence, there is a pressing need for an overview of drought studies in EA. A fourth season of failed rains is causing one of the worst droughts East Africa has seen in decades, and this village, which is home to 3,600 families, is one of the areas hardest hit. Africa is both drought and cholera prone and more research is needed in Africa to understand cholera dynamics in relation to drought. Like its neighbours in the horn of Africa, Kenya is experiencing extreme drought conditions. The map and charts below highlight the key elements of the event for South . If the April rainy season turns out to be as disappointing as the last three, it will mark the longest drought to hit the region since the 1980s . This study investigated the space-time drought incidence in the northeastern highlands of Ethiopia using monthly rainfall data. Despite some studies suggesting links between drought and cholera outbreaks [15-17], this link, especially in Africa, has been widely under-studied in isolation. Specifically, wet conditions in coastal East Africa are associated with cool sea surface temperatures in the eastern Indian Ocean and warm sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean . South Africa is considered a water-scarce country, and the 30th driest country in the world. Natural disasters are not new to the region, which historically could count on at least seven major droughts each century, but in the current era they have been increasing, in part due to massive deforestation and the changing pattern of weather. By Abdi Latif Dahir. Hence, there is a pressing need for an overview of drought studies in EA. 00:00:00. Drought and crop failure. 1997; Calow et al. In 2011, a devastating drought brought the horrors of famine to the Horn of Africa. Research in the 1990s looked at the impact of drought on the availability of ground water in rural areas (Robins et al. Some crops grew. Joice Etutu & Alexandra Ostasiewicz - BBC News, Turkana. In contrast, the Greater Horn of Africa shifted from very dry conditions in 2018 and most of 2019 to floods and landslides associated with heavy rainfall in late 2019. Historic drought looms for 20 million living in Horn of Africa. In some regions, such as the Western Cape, the country's second largest province in terms of . Locals hope climate-smart agriculture can mitigate future crises. Temperature and precipitation are known to affect Vibrio cholerae outbreaks. Africa has seen several periods of extreme and extended drought [14]. In the Horn of Africa. NAIROBI, Kenya — First came the drought, drying up rivers, and claiming the lives of two of Ruqiya Hussein Ahmed's children as her family fled the barren . The climate crisis and devastating drought in eastern Africa. The former education campaigner and peace activist faces a daunting task in the nation of 15 million people which is suffering its worst drought in four decades and has endured seemingly never . However, a comprehensive analysis of droughts, including their evolution, complexity, social implications and people's vulnerability is currently lacking. 1997, 2002).The catalyst for this was the 1991-1992 drought, which affected much of southern Africa and left many rural people without access to water. The devastating impact of drought in Kenya. The climatic phenomenon known as La Niña is preventing nourishing rains for the fourth season in a row, putting East Africa on the . The Eastern Cape is of interest not just because of the severe drought that it is currently experiencing but also because its western parts lie near the transition zone between the summer (most of southern Africa) and winter rainfall regions (southwestern South Africa, Reason et al. Droughts have become more commonplace in South Africa in recent years. LUANDA, (CAJ News) - ANGOLA is enduring its worst drought in 40 years. The decision to declassify drought was announced on July 16, after the government re-examined the severity of . As the Horn of Africa faces its worst drought in 40 years, conflict and climate change have made the situation worse. A fourth season of failed rains is causing one of the worst droughts East Africa has seen in decades, and this village, which is home to 3,600 families, is one of the areas hardest hit. According to authorities, at least 3.5 million people in Kenya are affected by the severe shortage and need drinking water. The drought is expected to significantly reduce cereal production and pasture availability in the Southern African country . The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET . Some 6 500 rural communities across four provinces face water shortages. Three successive rainy seasons have failed to materialize, and scientists and Facebook. The farmers in Africa are presently suffering from natural calamities such as drought, cyclone, locust and armyworm; and from the man-made armed conflicts and rebellions. Western Cape Province in South Africa is going through a severe drought, affecting in particular the highly populated urban area of Cape Town and its water supply. In eastern Africa droughts can cause crop failure and lead to food insecurity. Abstract and Figures. In a desolate village in Turkana, Northern Kenya, villagers are praying for rain, but it just won't come. Global warming has already raised the risk of more severe droughts in Cape Town. A nurse measures the arm of Nimo Abdi, who is suffering from diarrhea and vomiting and is . May 17, 2022, 4:53 AM PDT. By Abdi Latif Dahir. The cycle of drought-famine-conflict has persisted in the region, with drought conditions returning every few years since 2000. Up to 20 million people could go hungry this year as delayed rains worsen extreme drought in the Horn of Africa region amid a shortfall in humanitarian aid, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday. Drought and conflict have left record numbers of people in the Horn of Africa and Sahel regions in dire need of aid, with women and children facing the brunt of the crises. The U.N. World Food Program said Feb. 8 that drought has left an estimated 13 million people in the Horn of Africa facing severe hunger amid the driest conditions since 1981. The drought not only negatively influences humans, also plants and animals are affected by the drought. The 2018-2021 Southern Africa drought is an ongoing period of drought taking place in Southern Africa.The drought began in late October 2018, and is negatively affecting food security in the region. This has even led to armed conflict in the region. 00:14:28. The Greater Horn of Africa, at the boundary of the Sahel in north-eastern Africa, encompasses three countries: Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. It is because of this that the world said we . We will write a custom essay specifically for you October 26, 2016 How a climate crisis can lead farmers to joint planning and response Stephanie Midgley, University of Cape Town Drought is a problem in South Africa and it affects farmers. As the Horn of Africa faces its worst drought in 40 years, conflict and climate change have made the situation worse. When droughts strike in eastern Africa, clerics, church experts, and faith-based agencies are some of the first to mobilize to address food security and deliver humanitarian aid. Hence, understanding and reducing the risks and adverse effects of drought such as yield losses is crucial, as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) states. East Africa (EA) has been the primary focus for various drought studies in recent years. 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