Southern Africa Growing Season 2015-2016: Heading for a Record Drought?

Highlights

The current growing season (October 2015 – April 2016) in Southern Africa is developing under the peak phase of El Nino that is about to become the strongest on the record.

• The first phase of the growing season is characterized by severe and widespread rainfall deficits. Across vast areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana, this has been the driest October-December since at least 1981.

• Hence widespread delays in the start of the season, especially in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are observed. Vegetation cover is also particularly affected given the cumulative effects of the previous season’s poor rainfall.

• Seasonal forecasts for the next stages of the growing season remain very pessimistic, raising the possibility of extensive crop failures despite some recent improvements in rainfall.

• The region is ill prepared for a shock of this magnitude, particularly since the last growing season was also affected by drought. This means depleted regional stocks, high food prices and substantially increased numbers of food insecure people.

• Major concerns are now Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Malawi but other countries are also being affected

Read report on: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/wfp281063.pdf

Drought in Botswana, a learning opportunity to achieve water security – UN expert

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Léo Heller, today urged the Government of Botswana to take the current extreme drought as an opportunity to develop a comprehensive strategy for providing access to safe drinking water and sanitation in the foreseen increasing water stress.

“The current drought should not be considered as a sporadic event, but rather as a driver for acquiring water security as a national priority,” the independent expert stressed at the end of a nine-day official visit* to Botswana. “A strategic and participatory process, oriented to the provision of water and sanitation for all, will be a short-cut to prevent illnesses and deaths related to water-borne diseases and economic losses.”

A significant part of the population is currently facing a severe water shortage due to a long drought in the country. People in Greater Gaborone Area and other cities are under starker water rationing, with several consecutive days in a week without any supply. “Such a measure hits the poor and the vulnerable hardest,” Mr. Heller said noting that the situation raises serious human rights concerns of water quality, water quantity and related health impacts.

Read more; http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16765&LangID=E