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DROUGHT AND FOOD INSECURITY PERSIST IN THE IGAD REGION

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Eastern Africa is facing the very real prospect that the rains will fail for a fourth consecutive season, placing Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia into a drought of a length not experienced in the last 40 years.

IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) indicates that the first month of the March to May (MAM) 2022 season was particularly dry. As a whole, the region recorded higher temperatures and less than normal rainfall.

The MAM rains are crucial for the region and, sadly, we are looking at not just three, but potentially four consecutive failed seasons ” said Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD’s Executive Secretary, at a press conference this morning. “This, coupled with other stress factors such as conflicts in both our region and Europe, the impact of COVID-19, and macro-economic challenges, has led to acute levels of food insecurity across the Greater Horn of Africa“.  

The Food Security and Nutrition Working Group, co-chaired by IGAD and FAO, estimates that over 29 million people are facing high levels of food insecurity across the IGAD region.

Already, 15.5 to 16 million of our sisters and brothers are in need of immediate food assistance, due to the drought. This is 6 to 6.5 million in Ethiopia, 3.5 million in Kenya, and 6 million in Somalia. In the southern-central part of Somalia, the situation is catastrophic, with 81,000 people at risk of famine ” explained Dr Workneh Gebeyehu. 

Dr Guleid Artan, ICPAC’s Director, added that “the severe shortages in water and pasture are leading to smaller food production, significant losses in livestock and wildlife, and a rise in resource-based conflict in the region. On the outlook, our early warning systems and indicators show the situation worsening in the coming months“.    

Alessandra Casazza, Manager of the UNDP resilience Hub for Africa emphasized the need for emergency action and development to work hand in hand. “Climate shocks keep coming back. We must invest in adaptation to build long term resilience across the region“. She also renewed UNDP’s call for countries in the Global North “to honor their commitment to climate finance: 100 billion USD to help developing countries adjust to the climate emergency”

Journalist/PR Practitioner who seeks to tell the African stories in an African way. Be it on Politics, Sports, Business, and Current News the story will be told. Twitter @kmajangah

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