BBC NEWS
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
The Horn of Africa has experienced a good rainy season following a severe drought over the past year.
The US based Famine Early Warning System says a large region from southern Sudan to Somalia had normal rains in the first months of the year.
But it warned many farmers had lost large proportions of their cattle and goats, and would take years to recover.
In some areas, including Ethiopia’s Somali region, the rains ended early, and additional help is needed.
The Horn of Africa remains chronically food insecure, and the study indicates that climate change could make the situation even more precarious.
In the worst affected areas, where Kenya borders Somalia and Ethiopia, very low rates of calving and milk production are reported.
Many pastoralists are unable to sell any livestock without depleting their holdings beyond a viable minimum.
Source: BBC NEWS, July 4, 2006
