Somalia: El Nino conditions threaten livelihoods

NAIROBI [ACTED News] - The Food Security and Nutrition Working Group, a national discussion group, announced in August that El Niño conditions are developing in the Horn of Africa region, with enhanced rainfall expected towards the end of the year. El Niño is defined by prolonged warming in the Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures which in effect causes enhanced rainfall in most parts of the Greater Horn of Africa.

El Niño conditions have been projected to increase October-December seasonal rainfall in Somalia. The potential effects of this phenomenon are the destruction of crops by landslides, flooding, increased livestock disease and increased infections in harvested crops. This is obviously worrying for ACTED’s areas of intervention, which are characterized by agro-pastoral living and hence a reliance on crops and livestock for families’ survival. ACTED is currently monitoring the situation to see where help can best be delivered should these problems arise.