Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Drought Alert In Horn Of Africa - WMO
/
3:03
/
MP4
/
225.8 MB

Edited News | WMO

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Drought Alert In Horn Of Africa - WMO

The threat of starvation looms in East Africa after four failed rainy seasons, warned meteorological organizations together with humanitarian partners predicting that the situation is set to worsen due to forecasts of an unprecedented fifth poor rainy season between October and December.

Speaking at a news briefing at the United Nations in Geneva, spokesperson Clare Nullis from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that “meteorological agencies that includes the World Meteorological Organization, along with humanitarian partners, have issued a joint alert that the threat of starvation looms in East Africa. This is after four failed rainy seasons. We are particularly concerned that the situation is set to get worse.”

The joint alert was made by 12 organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the World Food Programme (WFP), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Meteorological Organization, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

“In this alert, we say that the current extreme, widespread and persistent multi-season drought which is affecting Somalia, parts of Kenya and Ethiopia is unprecedented”, said Ms. Nullis.

Four consecutive rainy seasons have failed, a climatic event not seen in at least 40 years.

“The latest long-lead seasonal forecasts supported by wide community of meteorological experts indicate now that there is a very real risk that the October to December rainy season could also fail”, Ms. Nullis said. She added that “should these forecasts materialize, then the already severe humanitarian situation will further deepen.”

The 2022 March-May rainy season appears likely to be the driest on record, the impact on livelihoods, on people’s health, on life stock and on pastureland have been devastating. An estimated 3,7 million livestock have died in Kenya (1.5 million) and in Ethiopia with 2.1 million.

“The Food Security and Nutrition Working Group (FSNWG), so this is a large body of experts, estimates that 16.7 million people currently face high food insecurity and projects figures to increase to 20 million by September”, said WMO’s spokesperson.

During 2020, 2021 and 2022, a multiyear La Niña contributed to less rainfall across eastern Africa which resulted in the devastating drought of East Africa in 2010-2011.

“La Niña, just like its counterpart El Niño, is part of our natural climate variability”, Clare Nullis said. “However, as with everything these days, human induced climate change is amplifying the impact. It's the elephant in every room, when we talk about climate these days.”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated in their Sixth Assessment Report that there is evidence of human contribution in decreased precipitation in North-eastern Africa and increased frequency of hot extremes.

“Climate change is leading to more intense and severe extremes, and it's also increasing air temperatures, as we've seen in East Africa this year”, WMO’s spokesperson said. “So that worsens droughts because it increases the loss of moisture from plants and soil.”

The impacts in food security have also been extensive, said Clare Nullis.

“Quoting the IPCC: in Africa, agricultural productivity growth has been reduced by 34% since 1961 due to climate change, more than any other region.”

-ends-

  1. Exterior medium-wide shot, flag alley, UN Geneva.
  2. Wide shot, cameras in the foreground, podium speaker in the background, TV screen showing speakers to rear, UN Geneva press conference room.
  3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Meteorological agencies that includes the World Meteorological Organization, along with humanitarian partners, have issued a joint alert that the threat of starvation looms in East Africa. This is after four failed rainy seasons. We are particularly concerned that the situation is set to get worse.”
  4. Medium wide shot, seated participants listening to the press briefing.
  5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “In this alert, we say that the current extreme, widespread and persistent multi-season drought which is affecting Somalia, parts of Kenya and Ethiopia is unprecedented.”
  6. Medium shot, seated participants looking at their laptop screens while following the press briefing.
  7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “The latest long-lead seasonal forecasts supported by wide community of meteorological experts indicate now that there is a very real risk that the October to December rainy season could also fail.”
  8. Medium shot, side angle of three masked participants in foreground, TV screen in background.
  9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Should these forecasts materialize, then the already severe humanitarian situation will further deepen.”
  10. Close-up, fingers holding a pen and taking notes on the notebook.
  11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “The Food Security and Nutrition Working Group (FSNWG), so this is a large body of experts, estimates that 16.7 million people currently face high food insecurity and projects figures to increase to 20 million by September.”
  12. Medium shot, lower angle shot of cameras in the foreground, participants and a flashlight to rear.
  13. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “La Niña, just like its counterpart El Niño, is part of our natural climate variability. However, as with everything these days, human induced climate change is amplifying the impact. It's the elephant in every room, when we talk about climate these days.”
  14. Close-up, hands of the participants, tapping or operating the mouse in front of the laptops.
  15. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Climate change is leading to more intense and severe extremes, and it's also increasing air temperatures, as we've seen in East Africa this year. So that worsens droughts because it increases the loss of moisture from plants and soil.”
  16. Close-up, camera screen displays the podium speaker in the foreground, podium speaker to rear, blurry.
  17. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Quoting the IPCC: in Africa, agricultural productivity growth has been reduced by 34% since 1961 due to climate change, more than any other region.”
  18. Medium shot, shot from the back of the participants, seated in the foreground, podium speakers and TV showing the podium speaker to rear.
  19. Close-up, two participants following the press conference.
  20. Close-up, a participant listening carefully to the press conference

Similar Stories

UN  High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rigths Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rigths Council ENG FRA

Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu., 

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025 ENG FRA

A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO ENG FRA

Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO

Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity ENG FRA

A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017. 

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR ENG FRA

Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’

In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA ENG FRA

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, repeated his urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, amid increased military Israeli activity in the enclave’s largest city.

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025 ENG FRA

Amid reports of increased Israeli military operations across Gaza City on Friday, UN aid agencies repeated urgent warnings of ongoing famine and a likely rise in preventable disease, linked to the dire living conditions in the war-shattered enclave.