IRI Climate Digest March
2001
Climate Impacts - February
Contributions to this page were made by IRI researchers Dr. A. Amissah-Arthur (Agriculture), Dr. K. Broad (Fisheries), Dr. M. Hopp (Health), Dr. B. Lyon (Energy), Dr. A. Seth (Hazards) and Dr. L. Zubair (Water Resources).
Hazards/Threats
Afghanistan
Refugees in Northern Afghanistan have been severely affected
by a cold wave and 260 persons have died within refugee camps.
The UN estimates that up to 600,000 Afghans have been displaced
or been made refugees between last year and this year to date.
Following his recent mission to Afghanistan and Pakistan, UN
Emergency Relief Coordinator Kenzo Oshima said about one million
Afghans were at risk of famine. Without the prompt delivery of aid,
he said, a humanitarian catastrophe could ensue.
(UNRC;
ReliefWeb)
Mozambique and Malawi
Continuous heavy rain across southern Africa has placed enormous
pressure on Mozambique's largest hydro-electric dam, the Cahora Bassa. The
number displaced by flooding has been estimated at 80,000, although the flood
waters are rising more gradually than during last year's floods. In Malawi heavy
rains and flooding has displaced 200,000 and led to 5 fatalities in
the South. The government has declared 13 of the 27 districts of the
country as disaster zones.
(OXFAM;
OCHA;
OCHA)
Indonesia
Heavy rainfalls in Indonesia have led to flooding and landslides in Java.
The Indonesian meteorological agency reported that the
heavy downpours threatened Bogor, Jatiwangi, North-Central Sulawesi,
Gorontalo and Lombok.
(UNRC)
East Africa
According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) more than four million Kenyans are in need
of food aid, as severe
drought conditions continue across
large parts of the country after another poor and erratic rainy season. Hopes for recovery were dashed
when the recent short-rains season (October to December) came one month late, and was insufficient to
alleviate the effects of prevailing drought. These erratic rains have created a varied picture across
the country, with some areas in the south receiving heavy downpours resulting in floods, and other areas receiving
little or no rains. Although there are improved harvest prospects in Western Kenya, Southern Rift Valley Province
and in some marginal agricultural areas, there was no significant improvement for the pastoral and agro-pastoral
areas in the north.
(WFP; OCHA)
Bolivia
Heavy rains have been falling over most of Bolivia since December 2000
causing floods and landslides. The Government declared almost half
the country a natural disaster area after several weeks of floods.
The death toll has risen to 33 people and over 1,000 families
were evacuated due to loss of their houses. The National Civil
Defense Service (SENADECI) reports 39,560 families (some 197,800
people) affected by floods and preceding drought. Crop failure has affected
more than 100,000 hectares. The government is concerned with possible
outbreaks of dengue, cholera and
malaria.
(WFP;
IFRC)
Health
Australia
More than 140 residents of the Northern Territory have been infected with the Ross River virus. Symptoms include chronic fatigue, extremely painful joints and a rash. Health authorities caution that more infections could occur as flooding continues to affect the Territory.
(ProMED)
Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE)
has been confirmed in two residents of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. This potentially fatal mosquito-borne viral disease has also been confirmed in a Queensland child. The typical MVE symptoms include severe headache, high fever, drowsiness, tremor, and may progress to delirium and coma. Due to continuing rains and high numbers of mosquitoes, the risk of MVE transmission will likely continue for at least the next two months in the Northern Territory, northwest Western Australia, western Queensland and western New South Wales. People are advised to take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes.
(ProMED;
ProMED)
United Kingdon Freezing weather conditions have possibly contributed to the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) by providing appropriate conditions for the virus causing FMD to survive in the soil and air, on buildings and on the clothing of farm workers, thus allowing it to be propagated more easily. The FMD virus survives well in cold, even sub-zero temperatures, and prefers humid air and the relative darkness of cloud cover. High winds and rain, snow and sleet can assist the transmission of the virus, which lodges in water droplets. (ProMED)
Bolivia Following heavy rains and flooding, the Bolivian government has declared a national health emergency with the eruption of several epidemics in affected towns. A 12 percent increase in acute respiratory infections and a 10 percent increase in gastrointestinal infections, from the previous year, have resulted from flood contaminated drinking water. Over 1000 cases of malaria
have also been reported and outbreaks of the mosquito-borne dengue fever
are a potential threat to flood victims.
(ProMED)
Water Resources/Energy
Europe
An abnormally mild European winter is leaving northwest European heating oil
markets awash with unwanted product, according to energy traders. Excess heating
oil continues to pour into Europe from Russia each month,
but above-average temperatures have dampened traditionally high demand. (Reuters)
Agriculture
East Africa
An estimated 18 million people are currently affected by serious food shortages
due to the lingering effects of drought and conflicts. In Eritrea
the food situation of nearly 1.5 million war-displaced and about 300,000
drought-affected people gives cause for serious concern. In
Ethiopia, despite an increase in grain harvest, the overall food
supply situation remains precarious. The number of people in
need of food assistance is anticipated to decline to 6.2 million from
last year's peak of nearly 10.2 million. In Somalia, 750 000 people are
estimated to rely on emergency food assistance, reflecting
diminished livelihoods due to a succession of droughts and
insecurity. In Kenya, drought-induced food shortages persist with
nearly 4.4 million people in urgent need of food assistance. In
Sudan, serious food shortages have emerged in many parts due to
prolonged dry spells; food prices have more than doubled over the
same period last year.
(FAO/GIEWS Food Report)
Afghanistan and Iraq
In Afghanistan, despite recent beneficial rains, a very serious food crisis
has emerged following two consecutive years of drought and
continuing civil conflict with renewed displacements of thousands of
people. In Iraq, two years of drought have decimated crops and
exacerbated the already tight food supply situation.
(FAO/GIEWS Food Report)
Asia
In Asia severe winter weather in several countries is raising serious concerns
over additional food emergencies. In the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea, an already desperate food situation following a
poor harvest in 2000, has been greatly exacerbated by the coldest
winter in 50 years. Lack of heating and food through the Public
Distribution System may result in an increasing number of fatalities.
Similarly, in Mongolia, large numbers of livestock, which provide an
important source of livelihood and income for a large section of the
population, have died due to severe winter conditions and food
assistance is urgently required in parts.
(FAO/GIEWS Food Report)
South America
Showers continued to provide adequate to abundant soil
moisture for Brazilian soybeans. (JAWF)
South Africa
Scattered showers helped stabilize
filling corn and other summer crops. (JAWF)
Middle East
Stormy weather increased irrigation
reserves in the eastern Mediterranean. (JAWF)
Europe
Unseasonably mild weather continued across
the continent, favoring dormant and semi-dormant
winter grains and oilseeds. (JAWF)
Southeast Asia
Heavy showers caused flooding and benefited rice in
Java, Indonesia, but caused more flooding in the
eastern Philippines. (JAWF)
Australia
Locally heavy rain boosted moisture
reserves in Western Australia, while in the southeast, showers improved
pastures. (JAWF)
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