GIEWS Special Alert No. 345 - East Africa, 23 April 2019
Severe dryness at the start of 2019 first rainy season and unfavourable weather forecasts raise food security concerns
Year of publication2019
AuthorFAO
PublisherFAO
AbstractSevere dryness prevailed in March 2019 and in the first half of April in large parts of Eastern Africa, as the Tropical Cyclone “Idai” redirected precipitations away from the subregion. Weather forecasts previously pointed to average to above-average March-May rains, but subsequent updates predicted dry conditions in April and a mixed performance of rains in May depending on the locality. The current dry weather conditions are severely affecting pastoral areas, compounding the impact of the poor 2018 October-December rains and raising major food security concerns. The severe dry conditions impacted planting and germination of crops in several areas, and crop production is expected at well below-average levels. Major areas of concern are northern and eastern Kenya, Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia, Uganda and northeastern United Republic of Tanzania. Recurrent climatic shocks have undermined household resilience. Urgent support to agricultural livelihoods is critically needed.
Available inEnglish
| French
Product typeNewsletter
SeriesGIEWS - Special Alerts
RegionAfrica
ISSN2707-1766
Areas of workGlobal Information and Early Warning System
KeywordsTropical climate; dry spells; damage; pastoral lands; impact assessment; food security; planting; germination; crop production; East Africa.
