Effects of El Niño will persist long after it is gone, projections show

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The drought has resulted in acute water scarcity within the Horn Region

somalilandsun-The cycle of drought-related problems continues in neighboring Somalia. Nearly 1.7 million people living in the autonomous Puntland and Somaliland are in need of humanitarian assistance. Without help, more than 1 million people could join the 385,000 already experiencing acute food insecurity.

“I am deeply concerned about the devastating effects of the persisting drought on the communities in Puntland and Somaliland,” said Peter de Clercq, a U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, following his recent visit to those areas, in a statement. “If we can vaccinate livestock and provide cash and inputs to agro-pastoralists now, we can mitigate the impact of the current drought.”

Some good news: the El Niño weather phenomenon that caused drought and food insecurity for tens of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa is almost over. Some bad news: the problems caused by the drought are far from over. Food insecurity will persist and actually get worse in some regions over the next years. After a year-long campaign to rally support for people affected by El Niño, the end seems no closer.

reports the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET

reports Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET)