Source: World Food Programme
Country: Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda
HIGHLIGHTS
- The rainfall season in the Horn of Africa has ended in a severe drought. Extensive growing season failures and record low vegetation are observed across Somalia and southeast Ethiopia and coastal Kenya.
- Northern and western Kenya, southwest Ethiopia and the eastern half of Uganda are also affected, although with more moderate consequences.
- Severe crop production losses will occur in Somalia and coastal Kenya. Irrigated crop production will also be impacted as the drought extends over the key river basins.
- Pasture and water resources for human and livestock consumption are at critically low levels across wide swaths of the region, particularly Somaliland to southern Ethiopia.
- This drought is largely comparable to Oct-Nov 2010 and like worse in coastal Kenya, northern Somalia and SE Ethiopia. Unlike the 2010 drought which was preceded by a good season, the coping capacities of the most vulnerable households this year are already reduced due to poor rains in the last season.
- The outlook for the next months is pessimistic, as available evidence points to drier than average conditions during the next rainfall season.
- Yet another drought affected season could lead to a humanitarian crisis similar to 2010-2011.