The past two years have seen some of the worst droughts in recorded history, from Somalia to mainland Europe. This is due to the devastating effects of climate change, according to a UN-backed report.
Drought is described as a “silent killer” and “slowly destroys lives and livelihoods by depleting resources,” the report said. The consequences are exacerbated by poverty and ecosystem degradation, the report said.
The report highlights the major impacts of drought in Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, as well as Africa, the Mediterranean and Latin America. In addition, an estimated 4.4 million people in Somalia are facing food insecurity since the beginning of the year.
To overcome these challenges, the report recommends that governments around the world adopt “new lifestyles” such as early warning systems and other drought-resilient strategies.
“Drought is a global catastrophe that is slowly creeping up. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Dr. Marc Sovoda, co-author of the report. He is also the founder of the US National Drought Mitigation Center.