For humans and animals in the Horn of Africa, the drought has the potential to be disastrous.
Droughts in the Horn of Africa have wreaked havoc on an area where livestock and agriculture are the lifeblood of most people's livelihoods, with more than 1.5 million head of cattle dying and wheat output plummeting dramatically as a result of the drought.
Rein Paulsen, Director of Emergencies and Resilience at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, told reporters in a virtual press conference on Monday after a visit to the area that there is a "very narrow window" for taking immediate action.
According to Paulsen, "we are most definitely on the verge of a catastrophe." He went on to say that the organization had issued a call for millions of dollars in funding, which it would need until June this year to support their work in the region, which includes parts of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, such as providing livestock with urgent fodder and water to keep them alive.
After experiencing "extremely poor" short rainfall from October to December last year – the third consecutive failed rainy season with lower average rainfall, which is a source of concern for vulnerable households – it is still unclear whether the region will receive adequate rain between March and May.
According to Paulsen, as a consequence of the drought, total grain output in southern Somalia during the most recent rainy season was expected to be 58 percent lower than the long-term normal, compared to the previous season. Agro-industrial sectors in marginal coastal zones in the southeastern sections of Kenya are seeing crop output that is expected to be 70 percent below the national average, according to the minister.
In addition, the majority of Kenya's water sources, which have historically been tolerant to climatic fluctuation, have dried up, according to him.
Paulsen said that $130 million in financing is required immediately in order to offer cash to individuals so that they may purchase food until production begins, to keep animals alive, and to supply drought-resistant seeds that would assist farmers in reaping a crop.
In Paulsen's words, "we have until the middle of this year, until June, which is a very time-sensitive, small window for urgent efforts to be scaled up in order to avoid a worst-case scenario from occurring." "Agriculture requires a significant increase of attention. It is critical to the survival of communities that have been devastated by the drought."
When asked about his experiences during his visit to the area, Paulsen said, "We saw animals dying alongside their farmers, and the numbers I believe are rather appalling."
According to him, 1.4 million cattle perished in Kenya alone in the final quarter of last year as a consequence of drought, while over 240,000 livestock died in southern Ethiopia as a result of drought, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
More recently, the United Nations World Food Programme said that drought has left an estimated 13 million people in the Horn of Africa suffering extreme hunger, despite the fact that the region is experiencing the driest weather in four decades. It is looking for $327 million to meet the immediate needs of 4.5 million people over the next six months, according to the organization.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES
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