Severe African drought expected in 2023 : IGAD

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Feb 2023 15:36

The drought-stricken region has already lost 11 million animals and MAM harvests, prompting officials to urge decision-makers to invest in building community resilience.

A man walks past the carcass of sheep that died from the El Nino-related drought in northern Somalia, April 7, 2016. (Reuters)

For the past several years, East Africa has been shown to experience a series of severe droughts despite being one of the least regions in the world which emits greenhouse gases, the UN asserts. This reveals that Africa may be the most impacted by climate change and its effects.

Another unfavorable rainy season is expected to take place as the East African drought is worsening over the next few months, the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) stated in a new report.

A report presented at the Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF 63) demonstrated that each economy requires 5% of its GDP in order to be able to protect its citizens from the heat of the drought.

This stipulates an urgent need to divert funds to the humanitarian situation.

The data in the report examined the typical rainy season over March, April, and May of 2023. It showed that rainfall in some areas like Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and South Sudan will experience below-average rainfall and high heat.

As per the organization, this would be the sixth straight failed rainfall season in particularly drought-stricken countries.

The drought-stricken region has already lost 11 million animals and MAM harvests. As such, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu raised concern over the delayed reaction in reducing the terrible effects of this harsh weather.

“There is an urgent need to invest in early action and building community resilience,” he said.

Nevertheless, the GHACOF 63 report states that wetter-than-usual conditions were expected over some regions of Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

Forecasts suggested that precipitation in countries like Burundi, Tanzania, and South Sudan could be below-average, normal, or above normal.

Earlier this month, Kenyan National Steering Committee on Drought Response's head Peter Ndegwa announced that the drought in the country could last another year.

The National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of Igad Member States, the International Meteorological Organization, alongside other collaborators helped the ICPAC organize the GHACOF63 on February 22, 2023.