African drought

[waltky]

Ethiopian children especially vulnerable to drought...

Ethiopia's Drought Takes Toll on Children May 02, 2016 — Ethiopia is dealing with its worst drought in decades. Its crops failed last year, contributing to food shortages affecting at least 10 million of the east African country’s 99 million people.

Approximately 6 million of them are children, and they’re especially vulnerable to disease, hunger and thirst, according to UNICEF, the United Nations’ children’s fund. It estimates 435,000 of them risk acute malnutrition. Beriti Hawas brought her malnourished 3-year-old child to a clinic in central district of Metahara district, saying, "My baby got sick because there is no food."

Malnutrition is especially problematic for children, because it can slow or halt brain development and thinking abilities, explained Samuel Terfa of the nongovernmental organization Child Fund. He said it also could have immediate consequences, such as aggravating diarrhea. Child Fund is among the humanitarian organizations helping the Ethiopian government to supply food. Over $800 million in emergency funding has been provided, but Ethiopia’s government and the United Nations estimate a total of $1.4 billion is needed this year. The bulk of the money is to provide food.

Only by receiving aid can Alko Bultum can feed her six children. "Because of the drought, we have nothing except the government's support,” she said, adding, “We have nothing at home. We have nothing to feed our children. We don’t have drinking water." Food aid will be needed into 2017 in Ethiopia and in other drought-stricken parts of eastern and southern Africa, experts say. The poor conditions are believed to be caused by the periodic weather phenomenon El Nino.

http://www.voanews.com/content/ethio...n/3311653.html

See also:

Climate Change Could Make Parts of Middle East Uninhabitable
May 02, 2016 - Climate change may render parts of the Middle East -- now home to over 500 million people -- too hot for humans, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and the Cyprus Institute say “very hot” days in the region have “doubled” since 1970. "In future, the climate in large parts of the Middle East and North Africa could change in such a manner that the very existence of its inhabitants is in jeopardy," says Jos Lelieveld, Director at the Max Planck Institute and Professor at the Cyprus Institute.

A man walks his camel across the Liwa Oasis, southwest of the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi

Researches say that even if global temperature rise is capped at two degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era, “the temperature in summer in these regions will increase more than twofold.” That means by mid-century, during the hottest part of summer, “temperatures will not fall below 30 degrees at night, and during daytime they could rise to 46 degrees Celsius.”

More heatwaves

Further out, midday temperatures in the region could reach as high as 50 Celsius, and there could be a tenfold increase in the number of heat waves. Those heat waves are likely to last longer, too, with an average of 80 extremely hot days by the middle of the century compared to 16 now. "If mankind continues to release carbon dioxide as it does now, people living in the Middle East and North Africa will have to expect about 200 unusually hot days, according to the model projections," says climate change expert Panos Hadjinicolaou, Associate Professor at the Cyprus Institute.

The study also looked at the amount of “fine particulate air pollution” in the region and found that dust in the atmosphere over Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria jumped 70 percent since the start of the century. This, they say, could be due to an increase in the number of sand storms caused by climate change. The researchers created two models -- one in which global temperatures are capped by reductions in greenhouse gases, and another, a “business as usual” model where nothing is done to stem climate change. Under both scenarios, the future of the region is not good, they say, adding that “climate change can result in a significant deterioration of living conditions for people living in North Africa and the Middle East, and consequently, sooner or later, many people may have to leave the region.”

http://www.voanews.com/content/mht-c...e/3311862.html

[Mac-7]

Climate change huh?

they used to call it man-made global warming till that hoax was exposed.

Now any change in weather is blamed on exxon and used as an excuse to grow centralized government first at the national level and ultimately on a global scale.

The truth is that drought is normal and as old as the earth itself

[Peter1469]

Move

[MMC]

Have they tried digging some holes looking for water? Create some wells.

Let them know about PVC piping. Just sayin.

[Mac-7]

Move

Dont say that cause obumer might bring them all to America by executive order

[Cigar]

Move

They are, they're called Refugees coming to a neighborhood near you.

[Private Pickle]

[waltky]

El Nino strikes Zimbabwe crops...

Millions Going Hungry in Drought-Stricken Zimbabwe
May 25, 2016 — The United Nations says nearly three million people in drought-stricken Zimbabwe are going hungry. The world body expects that number to exceed four million as the full impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon kicks in.

U.N. Resident Coordinator for Zimbabwe Bishow Parajuli says the impact of little rain and low crop yields following two years of drought is painfully visible in Matabeleland and other dry lands. “I recently visited that area with a number of donors and ambassadors," said Parajuli. " We could really see the desperation and severity of the situation.” A few weeks ago, the United Nations appealed for $360 million to provide life-saving assistance for more than three million people. The priority needs are for food, water, health, nutrition, sanitation and protection.

Last Zimaniwa feels the broken ground at a spot which is usually a reliable water source that has dried up due to lack of rains in the village of Chivi , Zimbabwe

Parajuli says $70 million has been received, leaving a gap of $290 million. He says it is critical for donors to respond generously and immediately to this appeal. “Given Zimbabwe is a landlocked country and also the whole southern Africa region is affected by El Nino, and lack of surplus of maize, it is very critical to plan in advance in terms of importation and supply chain delivery ," said Parajuli. " So, earlier response will really help save lives and suffering among the population.”

Parajuli says he is particularly worried about the so-called lean season between September and March. This is the period between harvests when farmers’ food stocks are at their lowest. He says people will be severely affected by the lack of food, and many will not be able to count on their cattle as a lifeline as tens of thousands have died from lack of water and grazing land.

http://www.voanews.com/content/milli...e/3345354.html

[Mac-7]

The sahara desert used to be green.

but that was long before exxon existed.

climate change is natural

[Tahuyaman]

Ethiopian children especially vulnerable to drought...

Ethiopia's Drought Takes Toll on Children May 02, 2016 — Ethiopia is dealing with its worst drought in decades.

Climate Change Could Make Parts of Middle East Uninhabitable

Ethiopia has been suffering through various degrees of drought forever.

Parts of the Middle East have been uninhabitable since the beginning of human history.

Climate change would be a be a good thing for them.