East Africa: prolonged and severe drought exacerbates food insecurity
Poor rains across East Africa have worsened hunger and left crops scorched, pastures dry and thousands of livestock dead - according to an alert released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The most affected areas, which received less than half of their normal seasonal rainfall, are central and southern Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia, northern and eastern Kenya, northern Tanzania and northeastern and southwestern Uganda. The alert issued by FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) warns that the third consecutive failed rainy season has seriously eroded families' resilience, and urgent and effective livelihood support is required.