Security
Over 11 Districts in Afar Region Face Severe Drought, Leaving Residents in Despair as Livestock Perish
The Reporter (Amharic) · 2 weeks ago · Read the Full Story on The Reporter (Amharic)
AI SUMMARY
A severe two-year drought in Afar's Zone Two has caused widespread livestock deaths, crop failures, and acute water shortages across multiple districts, leaving residents in extreme distress.
- A severe drought caused by insufficient rainfall over the past two years has devastated livelihoods in Zone Two of the Afar region.
- Districts heavily impacted by the drought include Berahale, Dallol, Kuneba, Erebti, Megale, and Abala, where eight out of 11 kebeles are severely affected.
- Crops such as sorghum, maize, and teff have completely failed or withered due to the lack of rain since April.
- Widespread livestock deaths have been reported, with officials confirming at least 225 sheep and goats dead in Abala district alone, alongside heavy losses of cattle and camels.
- Traditional water sources and man-made reservoirs have dried up, forcing residents to walk seven to ten kilometers to fetch contaminated water.
- Conflict and severed trade links with neighboring Tigray prevent farmers from selling livestock to buy fodder or essential supplies.
- Over 100,000 remaining livestock in Abala district are prompting pastoralists to undertake hazardous multi-day migrations in search of water and pasture.
- Local officials state that disaster risk management committees have visited the sites, but no substantial aid has yet been provided to the affected communities.
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