Hazards/Threats

Zambia and Zimbabwe The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced plans for emergency food aid operations to help feed 1.3 million people in Zambia between December and March, and 558,000 people in Zimbabwe in response to reduced harvests. In the early months of 2001, heavy rains and flooding caused extensive crop damage in parts of southern Africa and contributed significantly to the current food shortage. (RW)

Somalia On 13 November, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a special alert regarding the adverse food situation in the country. Rainfall during the primary "Gu" rainy season is reported to have been the lowest in seven years, resulting in a poor harvest. (RW)

Argentina The effects of unusually heavy rainfall and widespread flooding reported last month continue to affect the Pampas. With cattle ranchers and farmers already affected by low commodity prices, millions of acres of former agriculture and grazing land remain under water. The Argentine government estimates it will need to spend 1.5 billion dollars on flood recovery at a time when the combined economic recession and a large foreign debt have already burdened the economy. The IRI seasonal forecast indicates a slightly enhanced probability for rainfall to be near- to below-normal averaged over the next three months. (AP)

United States Continued rainfall deficits along the east coast of the US enhanced the incidence of wildfires NOAA.

Health

No climate-related health impacts were confirmed for Nov. 2001.

Water Resources/Energy

United States Continued dry conditions along the east coast of the United States have resulted in low reservoir levels; reductions in the allotment of water to major metropolitan centers have been made in response. DRBC.

Agriculture

Afghanistan For the fourth consecutive year, rainfall deficits in the agriculture regions of Afghanistan have delayed planting and provided unfavorable conditions for the germination and emergence of the winter wheat crop during the planting season of October and November (FAS).

Iran For the third consecutive month of the winter wheat planting season, rainfall remained well below average in the northwest of Iran (FAS). This is the fourth consecutive year of drought in the region.