Kenya seeks divine help to end crippling, ongoing drought
- February 15, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Kenya seeks divine help to end crippling, ongoing drought
Subject: International Relation
Context:
- With the prospect of a sixth consecutive failed rainy season in the east and Horn of Africa, Kenya’s president is hoping the heavens will finally open with the help of a National Day of Mass prayer on Tuesday.
- The U.N. humanitarian agency has termed the ongoing drought in the region a “rapidly unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.”
- William Ruto announced the plans for the country’s first ever day of prayer on Sunday at a service in the drought-stricken city of Nakuru, some 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the capital Nairobi.
- It follows a joint call by the country’s spiritual leaders to dedicate an entire day to prayer to ease drought conditions in the nation.
Concept:
- Kenya and other east African nations have been experiencing some of the worst drought conditions in decades, causing crop failure, loss of livestock, wildlife and biodiversity, and malnutrition.
- Domestic agriculture is a large part of Kenya’s economy.
- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s climatecenter said that since 2020, five rainy seasons have failed, affecting over 50 million people.
- The center will release its projections for the long rains season, typically from March to May, later in February. Early projections from other meteorological groups are not optimistic.
Drought
- Drought is a prolonged dry period in the natural climate cycle that can occur anywhere in the world.
- It is a slow-onset disaster characterized by the lack of precipitation, resulting in a water shortage.
- In recent decades, drought has emerged as one of the biggest drivers of human life loss and economic loss among weather-related disasters.
- By 2030, or in the next eight years, drought will potentially displace an estimated 700 million people worldwide.
- Africa holds the highest burden of this disaster and East Africa is reeling under its worst drought in four decades.
Classification:
- Meteorological Drought: It is a situation where there is a reduction in rainfall for a specific period below a specific amount.
- Hydrological Drought: It is defined as deficiencies in surface and subsurface water supplies leading to a lack of water for normal and specific needs.
- Such conditions arise even in times of average (or above average) precipitation when increased usage of water diminishes the reserves.
- Agricultural Drought/ Soil Moisture drought: It is identified with soil moisture deficiency in relation to meteorological droughts and climatic factors and their impacts on agricultural production and economic profitability.
- Ecological Drought: When the productivity of a natural ecosystem fails due to shortage of water and as a consequence of ecological distress, damages are induced in the ecosystem.
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
- The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was formed in 1996 to replace the intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) which was founded in 1986.
- It is multi-national authority founded by east African Countries. I.E. Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Kenya.
- It is headquartered at Djibouti.
- The Assembly of Heads of State and Government is the apex body of policy making of the Authority which decides the objectives, guidelines and programs for IGAD.
The Secretariat:
- It assists member states in formulating regional projects in the priority areas, facilitates the coordination and harmonization of development policies, mobilizes resources to implement regional projects and programs approved by the Council.
- It reinforces national infrastructures necessary for implementing regional projects and policies.
- It is headed by the Executive Secretary.
The Council of Ministers:
- It is consisting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and one other Minister designated by each member state. It formulates policy, sanctions the work program and annual budget of the Secretariat during its half-yearly sessions.
The Committee of Ambassadors:
- It comprises IGAD member states’ Ambassadors or Plenipotentiaries accredited to the country of IGAD. It calls together as often as the need arises to advise and guide the Executive Secretary.