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A recent report from the World Food Programme (WFP) highlights the escalating food insecurity crisis in eastern Africa, caused by a combination of factors like drought and devastating floods, which are linked to climate change especially connected to the El Niño phenomenon
A recent report from the World Food Programme (WFP) highlights the escalating food insecurity crisis in eastern Africa, caused by a combination of factors like drought and devastating floods, which are linked to climate change especially connected to the El Niño phenomenon.
Somalia, where levels of hunger are reported to be among the worst in a decade, leads the list of countries that need urgent attention because of the double whammy of floods and droughts. The country has come for debate at the ongoing gathering of world leaders in Dubai for the COP28 climate talks.
Climate shocks, including El Niño and the broader climate crisis, have inflicted severe hardships on families already living in dire conditions. In Somalia, deadly floods interspersed with droughts compounded the struggles of those already grappling with food insecurity.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has projected that up to 80 million people could face hunger by mid-century, predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Central America. The effects of climate change are evident in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, where consecutive below-average rainy seasons have left 23.4 million people acutely food insecure, according to a July report from the World Food Programme.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the prolonged drought has significantly reduced local food supplies, leading to a surge in food prices. The situation is further complicated by heavy flooding that struck parts of Somalia and Kenya in November, threatening to exacerbate the existing food crisis.
The consequences of climate change on agriculture are far-reaching. Lack of water during critical growth stages, extreme temperatures, and erratic precipitation patterns impact crop yields and quality. Livestock, a crucial source of livelihood for many communities, suffer from dried-up watering holes and a scarcity of grazing land. Even in more temperate regions like Europe, unusual climate-induced events, such as cold spells, can have severe consequences for agricultural production.
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The IPCC emphasizes the need for adaptive measures in agriculture to mitigate the impact of rising temperatures. Shifting to less water-intensive crops, utilizing drought-resistant seeds, reducing soil erosion, and adopting efficient irrigation systems are among the suggested strategies. However, the effectiveness of these measures diminishes with the projected increase in global temperatures.
