Drought conditions persist, despite late seasonal rains over parts of eastern Horn of Africa – ReliefWeb

Drought conditions persist, despite late seasonal rains over parts of eastern Horn of Africa

KEY MESSAGES

• Rainfall increased during late November and early December in parts of northeastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia, and southern Somalia, which is likely to lead to short-term improvements in pasture and water. However, rainfall remains less than 30 percent of average parts of southern and central Somalia and southeastern Ethiopia. Agricultural production prospects are very poor and pasture levels remain very low.

• Rainfall was below average in much of Uganda, Tanzania, and parts of Burundi between mid-November and mid-December. Particularly in northeastern Uganda and eastern Burundi, persistent rainfall deficits have led to below-average harvest prospects, although conditions have been much more favorable in Rwanda and harvest prospects are near normal.

• During the next week, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast central Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania. However, seasonal rainfall typically ends during this time over Somalia, southern and southeastern Ethiopia, and northern and eastern Kenya. As the immiment dry season progresses, further deterioration of water and pasture resources is expected in these areas.