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Three failed rainy seasons result in worst drought in 50 years, Ethiopia

three-failed-rainy-seasons-result-in-worst-drought-in-50-years-ethiopia

Three failed rainy seasons have resulted in Ethiopia's worst drought in 50 years. The number of food insecure people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance has rapidly increased; from 2.9 million at the beginning of 2015 to over 10 million in March 2016. Over 100 000 people are believed to be displaced country-wide.

With 70 000 displaced people, Siti zone is one of the hardest hit areas where up to 90% of livestock have died. Families have now moved around villages where they are sharing the few remaining water sources.

For pastoralists, water is the source of all life and the basis of their livelihoods. Without water there is no pasture for their animals, and without animals there is no milk for their children, let alone meat or an income.

With rainy seasons still months away, the peak of the crisis is yet to come.

YouTube video

Video courtesy European Commission

Around 12 million people in Ethiopia are regularly exposed to natural disasters like droughts, floods, landslides, epidemics and earthquakes. These regular shocks have many negative consequences such as destruction of assets and livelihoods, extreme poverty, under-nutrition, and extreme food insecurity.

Source: ECHO

Featured image credit: European Commission

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