Today's Edition
SHAABAN BILAL (CAIRO)
The Horn of Africa region, which includes Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, and South Sudan, faces severe impacts from climate change despite its minimal contribution to carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. This crisis is affecting millions globally, particularly in these countries.
According to United Nations (UN) reports, the region is grappling with various consequences of climate change, such as altered rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and especially severe droughts, which are threatening the lives and livelihoods of people.
This situation is particularly dire for millions of refugees and internally displaced persons in the region, and it also significantly impacts regional security and peace.
According to a report by the World Food Programme (WPF), more than 22 million people in the Horn of Africa region are now at risk of famine due to the ongoing drought. This situation is compounded by the fact that over 7.5 million internal displacements have occurred due to disasters on the African continent, as recorded by the WPF.
The UN has highlighted drought as the most dangerous consequence of climate change in the region. It reports that the fourth consecutive season of scarce rainfall since the end of 2020 has led to the worst drought in 40 years, resulting in the death of millions of livestock and the destruction of crops.
This long-lasting drought has internally displaced approximately two million people in Ethiopia and Somalia. Additionally, millions of refugees have crossed borders from Somalia and South Sudan into drought-affected areas in Kenya and Ethiopia, with a total of 3.3 million people being affected by the drought.
Dr. Osama Salam, a water resources and climate expert, stated that the Horn of Africa is significantly affected by climate change, particularly by extended drought waves.
These recent years have seen the worst drought waves in decades, leading to severe shortages of food and water and the displacement of millions, he said.
Salam explained to Aletihad that rural communities in the Horn of Africa primarily depend on rainfed agriculture for their food and water. With decreased rainfall, agricultural productivity drops, leading to shortages of food and water.
The second major impact, according to Salam, is displacement. Millions in the Horn of Africa are forced to flee their homes due to these shortages, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
He pointed out studies that indicate that climate change will continue to seriously affect the Horn of Africa in the coming years, with prolonged drought waves expected to become more common and severe, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Salam emphasised the potential of sustainable agriculture in reducing the dependence of rural communities on rainfed agriculture and enhancing food security.
Dr. Mohammed Ali Fahim, a professor of climate change, noted that the Horn of Africa region is witnessing record drought waves due to an unprecedented lack of rainfall and record-high temperatures.
Fahim told Aletihad that the current situation is classified as “exceptional drought”, the most severe level on the American classification scale. This level of drought was unlikely in the past, but now there is a 5% chance of it recurring annually.
