36 million people affected by drought in Igad region

The drought has wiped out an estimated 4.2 million livestock, shattering the livelihoods of pastoralist communities and crippling them economically across the region.

The region hosts almost 50 per cent of the livestock in sub-Saharan Africa and livestock accounts for almost 15 per cent of the region’s GDP.

This was revealed when Igad executive secretary Workneh Gebeyehu delivered the third State of the Igad Region Address in Mombasa on Wednesday afternoon.

“This forum will be part of our continuing effort to remain the most climate-aware region on the continent and enhance the ability of our member states to collect and process data for disaster forecasting to reduce the gap between early warning and early action,” he said.

“Already we have noted some evidence of the success from this approach. In 2021 and 2022, we noted with some satisfaction that our initiative to ‘take the data to the people’ raised the warning in good time.”

Gebeyehu described 2020 and 2021 as the most challenging years in the history of Igad, saying the period was one of the hottest, driest and most conflict-affected in recent memory.

He said drought and food insecurity have been some of the most devastating non-conflict issues affecting the region.

Going into 2023, the region's climate outlook still looks worrisome as climate scientists have issued an early warning that this year could be even warmer because of La Niña climate phenomenon.

It will most likely be replaced by El Niño, which is projected to raise temperatures worldwide.

“The good news for our region from this projection is that the likelihood of a 6th consecutive season of failed rains is reduced,” Gebeyehu said.

“But the bad news is that it is possible that our region could rapidly change from severe drought to severe floods as the ones experienced in 1996, 2016 and 2019.”

The prolonged drought has also triggered large-scale population displacement, with close to two million people becoming internally displaced and increasing the refugee burden in the region.

Close to 40,000 people sought asylum in neighbouring countries in 2022.

Gebeyehu said the Russia-Ukraine war had a massive effect on the regional economy, inflating food, fertiliser and fuel prices.

It is estimated that food prices went up by 55.6 per cent, compelling the neediest people in the region to spend almost 90 per cent of their income on food alone.

In response to these extreme weather challenges, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development has proposed to undertake a number of proactive measures including convening a regional climate outlook forum to be held on February 20.

 Igad has also proposed to review its Food Security and Nutrition Response Strategy and align it with current realities.

“As part of this initiative, we shall be investing heavily in food security data. A starting point will be a region-wide census of livestock to have a clear picture of the situation after the drought,” Gebeheyu said.

He said Igad will this year be supporting member states to access climate financing under the Green Climate Fund founded by the 2015 Paris Agreement as well as the Loss and Damage Fund established by a resolution of COP27 in 2022.

On regional integration, Gebeheyu said it remains the core mandate of the bloc.

According to the Africa Regional Integration Index, the region is approximately 50 per cent integrated.

The regional bloc also unveiled the Igad Council of eminent persons who were selected to push for peace and integration.

Twelve prominent personalities were conferred to be members of the council after being approved by their member states.

They include Olympic marathon champion Paul Tergat, Major General (Rtd) John Selli, the chairman of Kenya Council of Elders, and former female marathoner Catherine Ndereba from Kenya.

Others were Olympic Gold medalist Haile Gabresilassie, Deratu Tulu and Prof Ahmed Zakira, a renowned scholar from Ethiopia.

From Somalia, the list included Ugas Ali Ugas, a respected elder and Prof Idil Osman, a professor of communications and regional peace advocate.

Ambassador Deng’ Alier Deng’ Ruai and Reverend Dr Gabriel Gai Riam from South Sudan, former Djibouti minister of health Kassim Issak Osman and his counterpart Aicha Mohamed Robleh were also conferred with the honours to be part of the council.