http://www.kbc.co.ke/horn-of-africa-region-faced-with-serious-drought/
Horn of Africa region faced with serious drought
February 28, 2014
The livestock sector called for distinct measures including off take
programs to reduce suffering by pastoralists owing to reduction in pasture
and water for livestock
By Judith Akolo, Entebbe
The Greater Horn of Africa is set for yet another season of depressed
rainfall in areas that are already suffering drought.
A statement released by climate experts meeting in Entebbe, Uganda indicate
that most of the eastern part of the Horn of Africa which constitutes of
Somalia, the eastern part of Ethiopia, the Northern and North Eastern
Kenya, the coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania, Sudan and the Karamoja
area of Uganda is set for a dry season.
"There is increased likelihood of near normal to below normal rainfall over
much of the northern, eastern and coastal areas of the GHA region," said
the experts who warned that, the region which is mainly the Arid and
Semi-Arid Lands will receive near normal to below normal rainfall during
the long rains season of March, April and May.
The region has already been in the throes of a drought that saw emergency
supplies of relief food to affected families in mainly Turkana and the
North Eastern counties of Garissa, the Eastern counties of Isiolo and the
coastal region in Kilifi.
Taking into account the principal factors including the observation of the
Sea Surface Temperatures in the tropical Pacific, Atlantic and Indian
Oceans, the experts meeting under the auspices of the Igad Climate
Predictions and Applications Center (ICPAC) however noted that with proper
use of the climate and weather data provided, the respective governments
will help to alleviate the suffering of the public during the season.
The livestock sector which attended the meeting called for distinct
measures including off take programs to reduce suffering by pastoralists
owing to reduction in pasture and water for livestock.
At the meeting held at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe the
climate experts noted that the Western part of the Greater Horn of Africa
that included season indicates an increased likelihood of near normal to
above normal rainfall over northern, western and southern Tanzania;
Burundi; Rwanda; much of Uganda; western Kenya; western Ethiopia and much
of South Sudan, meaning the region will receive high amounts of rainfall.
They warned that the region could suffer torrential rainfall leading to
flooding and urged governments in the region to make good use of the high
rainfall amounts to increase food productivity and alleviate the suffering
of populations in areas that the will be in water stress.
The greater horn of Africa includes such countries as Burundi, Djibouti,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and
Uganda.
Received on Sat Mar 01 2014 - 12:02:35 EST