IGAD warns against effects of climate change

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - The Inter-Government Authority and Development [IGAD] has warned about the adverse effects of climate change in the East and the Horn of Africa, calling on governments to take action to solve the menace before it gets out of control.

For this to happen, it said, regional governments must embrace disaster preparedness and emergency response, following heavy rains in the region. So far, over 30 people have died in Kenya and Somalia following heavy floods in the two countries.

Through IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center, the organization has warned that very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected in parts of northern Kenya, southern Ethiopia, southern Somalia, parts of Burundi Rwanda, and northern Tanzania.

According to the regional forecast covering Wednesday, November 8 to Wednesday next week, heavy rainfall [greater than 200mm] is expected in Western, Central, and Northern Kenya, northern Burundi, southwestern Rwanda, and isolated areas in southern Somalia.

“This is likely to exacerbate the current flooding conditions occurring across the region. In the past week, widespread flood was recorded over Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Burundi,” ICPAC said.

“Landslides have also been experienced and the heavy to extremely heavy rainfall that is predicted in some of these areas could make the situation worse,” it added.

Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda, and parts of South Sudan are experiencing heavy rains due to suspected climate change, which has triggered flush floods, displacing thousands of people in the process.

ICPAC says moderate rainfall (50-200mm) is expected over most parts of Kenya, southern Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, northern and western Tanzania, and western and southern South Sudan.

“Wetter than usual conditions expected over most parts of Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and parts of southern Sudan, southern Ethiopia, northern Tanzania, and central to southern Somalia,” it warns.

GAROWE ONLINE