As part of the 2006 Consolidated Appeal for the Horn of Africa recently
launched by the UN and its humanitarian partners, FAO is appealing for over
US$11 million in funding to support its emergency-related agricultural
activities in three of the affected countries --
The appeal advocates support for the efforts of governments and the
international humanitarian community to respond to this drought crisis. Key
donors (Scandinavian countries, the European Community,
Anne M. Bauer, Director, FAO Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division,
underlined the need for more efforts to save both the lives and the livelihoods
of pastoralists: “The support of the humanitarian community is essential. FAO,
with the support of donors, will play a key role in helping these countries
restore pastoral livelihoods and help vulnerable people meet their nutritional
needs.”
Pastoralists at risk
Those most at risk are predominantly pastoralist or agropastoralist communities, which remain among the region’s
poorest and most vulnerable due to successive shocks and structural problems.
The most urgent consequence of the drought is the lack of water for human and
animal consumption. Traditionally, pastoralists move their livestock over long
distances to cope with seasonal fluctuations and drought effects. However,
mobility is often limited by clan, ethnic, district and national conflicts and
boundaries, making long-distance migration difficult.
Drought trends
Droughts in the Horn of Africa occur frequently (four in the last six years),
due to poor rains, increased population pressure and environmental degradation.
Current climatic trends indicate reduced rainfall in the Horn and
Recent beneficial rains in most parts of the drought-affected areas of northern
and eastern
Even assuming a period of normal rains, it will take years for some of the
livestock herds and flocks to recover to levels that can provide their owners
with a sustainable livelihood. Vulnerable communities, already suffering from
years of drought and erratic and below normal rainfall patterns, will need
continuing support and development assistance during these crucial years.
Sustaining Livelihoods
FAO’s assistance will focus on livestock health by
de-worming and immunizing productive animals against contagious diseases, which
will increase the animals’ chances of survival.
FAO will also help pastoralists receive better prices for those animals that
can be sold. Emergency de-stocking will help to provide a fair price to farmers
for their livestock. In some cases, animals will be slaughtered and the meat
(fresh or dried) will be provided to feeding centres in the region. FAO will
collaborate with non-governmental organizations, local governments and private
institutions to draw on existing appropriate mechanisms to develop
country-specific de-stocking plans and build on and support existing market
structures.
FAO will also help provide fodder crop seeds for planting 300 hectares, which
could produce over 5 000 tonnes of hay and dry matter to support a healthy
livestock population in the region.
As a result of these interventions and by addressing the underlying causes of
the chronic food insecurity, pastoralists should also be less vulnerable to
future crises. As part of its longer-term development initiatives, FAO and its
partners are working to help with water, sanitation, health, nutrition and
education. FAO will facilitate the long-term sustainability of emergency
interventions through community-based hands-on learning in farmer field
schools.
With the support of the international community, an immediate response to this
drought and food insecurity situation should enable vulnerable communities to
survive the current crisis with their livelihoods intact and give them a more
sustainable road to recovery.
Contact:
Teresa Buerkle
Information Officer, FAO
teresamarie.buerkle@fao.org
(+39) 06 570 56146
(+39) 348 14 16 671