Through a statement released Wednesday ICPAC expressed fears of another failed rainy season in the Horn of Africa that will leave nations like Somalia experiencing worse conditions than a decade ago when approximately 260,000 people died.
The regional climate monitoring body said up 60 percent of the annual total rainfall in equatorial parts of the Horn of Africa are experienced between March and May, adding, the outlook confirms fears expressed by meteorologists and aid agencies who warned of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.
“In parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda that have been most affected by the recent drought, this could be the sixth failed consecutive rainfall season,” read the statement released by ICPAC.
East Africa’s regional Intergovernmental Authority and Development (IGAD) 23 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia are “highly food insecure.”
Antonio Guterres, the UN chief said 1.3 million Somalia’s have been internally displaced by the biting drought.
“8.3 million people – more than half of Somalia’s population – will need humanitarian assistance this year,” added Guterres.
Workneh Gebeyehu, the executive secretary of IGAD said all help should be sent to the Horn of Africa.
“National governments, humanitarian and development actors must adopt a no-regret approach before it’s too late,” he added.