by David Musyoka
NAIROBI, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday released an alert warning of worsening hunger in East Africa due to poor rains that has left crops scorched, pastures dry and thousands of livestock dead.
The alert issued by FAO's Global Information and Early Warning Systems (GIEWS) warned that the third consecutive failed rainy season has seriously eroded families' resilience, and urgent and effective livelihood support is required.
"Timely humanitarian assistance has averted famine so far but must be sustained," the UN agency said.
It said conditions across the region are expected to further deteriorate in the coming months with the onset of the dry season and an anticipated early start of the lean season.
According to FAO, most affected areas, which received less than half of their normal seasonal rainfall, are central and southern Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia, northern and eastern Kenya, northern Tanzania and northeastern and southwestern Uganda.
"This is the third season in a row that families have had to endure failed rains - they are simply running out of ways to cope," said FAO's Director of Emergencies Dominique Burgeon.
"Support is needed now before the situation rapidly deteriorates further," Burgeon said.
The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in the five countries, currently estimated at about 16 million, has increased by about 30 percent since late 2016. In Somalia, about half of the total population is food insecure.
The alert said food security situation for pastoralists is of particular concern, in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, where animal mortality rates are high and milk production from the surviving animals has declined sharply with negative consequences on food security and nutrition.
"When we know how critical milk is for the healthy development of children aged under five, and the irreversible damage its lack can create, it is evident that supporting pastoralists going through this drought is essential," said Burgeon.
In Somalia there are unfavourable prospects for this year's main Gu crops, after the Gu rains were late with poor rainfall and erratic distribution over most areas of the country.
In the Lower Shabelle region, the main maize producing area, seasonal rainfall was about 50 percent below average and drought conditions are currently affecting up to 85 percent of the cropland.
Livestock prices have plummeted due to poor animal body conditions and this, coupled with soaring cereal prices, has severely constrained pastoralists' access to food. Rangeland and livestock conditions are expected to further deteriorate at least until the next rainy season starts in October.
In addition, fall armyworm, which has caused extensive damage to maize crops in southern Africa, has worsened the situation.
In Kenya, the pest has so far affected about 200,000 hectares of crops, and in Uganda more than half the country's 111 districts are affected.
In Ethiopia, unfavourable belg rains in southern cropping areas are likely to result in localized cereal production shortfalls. Drought is also affecting yields in Kenya's central, southeastern and coastal areas.
In Tanzania, unfavourable rains are likely to result in localized cereal production shortfalls in northern and central areas, while in Uganda production prospects are unfavourable for first season crops in the southwestern and northern districts.
