Hazards/Threats

East Africa Although its border war with Eritrea has displaced some 350,000 people and there are border clashes with Somali warlords, drought in the south and east of Ethiopia is having by far the greatest human impact. It has led to poor harvests in the 1998-1999 Meher growing season (Ethiopia's main harvesting period) as well as a series of low-yielding secondary crops (during the February-April Belg rains). The Tigray and Amhara regions in east of Ethiopia, together with southern regions Oromiya and Somali, face a severe food crisis.The late arrival of the belg rains which contribute up to 50% of crop production in some parts of the country, has allowed the planting of traditional crops in the regions of Amhara, Oromiya, Southern Nations and Tigray. However, they will not be available for consumption between June and August. (WFP) (FAO)

Afghanistan, Pakistan and India Severe drought is currently affecting vast areas of South Asia, and the impacts on the livelihoods of inhabitants are particularly evident in western India, southern and central Pakistan and southern Afghanistan. In India, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, are considered to be the states most affected by the drought. Rainfall in Gujarat was almost 40% below average last year. In Pakistan rain normally falls in October/November. If the rain is insufficient this year the problem will become significantly more serious. It is estimated that over one million people are currently affected; if the October/November rains fail, that figure will rise to three million. Drought is affecting the whole of Afghanistan, but its impacts are being felt particularly in the southern regions of Zabul and Kandahar. It is estimated that currently around 1.5 million people are seriously affected and in need of urgent assistance. Situation reports: (IFRC) (IFRC)

Indonesia The flood situation in West Timor in Indonesia has reportedly developed into the worst in a generation. Some 50,000 have been affected by flooding in the Benanain River watershed which covers as much as one third of the area of West Timor. (OCHA) (IOM)

Colombia More than half of Colombia, or 22 of its 31 Departments, has been seriously affected by floods, landslides and avalanches due to torrential rains on and off since October last year. The rains have been caused by the Pacific Cold Phenomenon, or La Niña. In addition, Hurricane Lenny hit Colombia's Atlantic coast, causing damage in three departments. According to the Civil Defense this is the worst flooding in Colombia in the last 25 years. (IFRC)

Argentina In mid-May, winds reached a speed of 100 km/h and rainfall totals over 300 mm were seen in Buenos Aires, where the average rainfall for the month of May is 74 mm. The city of Parana received rainfall of 1,075mm (annual average is 994mm). The affected areas include, the city of Buenos Aires, Provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa ( northern part ), Paraná, La Córdoba ( some areas ), Entre Rios ( city of Paraná). The storms have resulted in four dead, 40 injured and some 30,000 evacuated from their homes. (OCHA)

China East-central China remained exceptionaly dry. Anhui province is reported to be experiencing the worst drought since 1950. (In northern and northwestern China, 12 sandstorms have affected the region since spring, prompting government officials to assess land-use practicies in the area and discuss the problem of desertification.) (CNN)

Health

Ethiopia In Ogaden, the southeastern region of Ethiopia, recent rains have provided much needed moisture for next season's crops. However, flooding has limited road access to many communities for the distribution of food and aid, and has polluted some of the clean water supply, increasing risk of disease. Mortality rates for children under 5, in camps for the displaced, have been 15.9/10,000 per day, where 2.4/10,000 per day is considered an emergency. Rates for the general population are 3.9/10,000 per day, compared to 1/10,000 per day in an emergency. (DWB)

Russia Two people died and another 22 became ill with Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (C-CHF) in Stavropol, located about 1200 km south of Moscow. Unusually warm weather is believed to have contributed to the increased activity of ticks, the carriers of C-CHF. (ProMED)

Water Resources

Afghanistan The main water sources in southern Afghanistan lie in an arc following the Arghandab and Helmand river systems: this year, however, the surface water is drying up far sooner than usual and it is estimated that river levels are no more than 25% of the seasonal norm. The majority of kharezes (traditional well systems) and shallow wells are also drying up. It has been estimated that there has been an 80% to 90% decrease in the availability of water in some areas. (IFRC)

Sri Lanka Continued low water levels in reservoirs used to generate hydro-electric power has led energy producers to warn of possible power shortages. The Ceylon Electricity Board has urged the public to conserve energy due to the continued decline in available water resources. Heavy rains at the end of the month helped improve water levels in reservoirs, easing concerns of an impending power crisis. (CNN)

Brazil Sao Paulo state has being suffering the worst drought since 1890, with some areas without rainfall for two months, as they are beginning the dry season. The reservoir serving Itu city is at 30 percent of capacity and water levels in the reservoir serving southern Sao Paulo city is sufficiently low that water rationing has begun. (O Estado de Sao Paulo)

Agriculture

Southwestern Asia In Pakistan there have been almost no rain-fed crops this year, and the lack of melt water from the northern mountain ranges has led to a serious reduction in both the areas under irrigation and actual irrigated crops. (IFRC)

Eastern Asia In the North China Plain, mostly dry weather favored maturing winter wheat, but reduced soil moisture for summer crop planting. (JAWF)

United States In the Corn Belt, rain significantly eased long-term drought and aided corn and soybeans, but left standing water in some low-lying areas and halted soybean and final corn planting. (JAWF)

Fisheries

Peruvian catch of small pelagics for the month of May are estimated to be over 1.3 million metric tons. Cumulative catch for 2000 is estimated to exceed 4.5 million metric tons, compared to approximately 3 million metric tons for the same period in 1999. A veda (temporary fishing ban) began on May 27 and will remain in effect approximately one week. Catch is composed almost exclusively of anchovy which is converted into fishmeal for export (as opposed to sardine and mackerel which are frozen and canned for direct human consumption). While the anchovy stocks have recovered since their dramatic El Nino related decline in 1998, the high catches and fishmeal production are contributing to low prices, and the fishmeal industry continues to have difficulty repaying the massive debt accrued as a result of the low 1998 catches.
 

Material for this portion of the IRI Climate Information Digest has been extracted from the UN/OCHA Reliefweb, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Doctors Without Borders (DWB), Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED) , USDA/NOAA Joint Agricultural Weather Facility and the Fishmeal Exporters Organization. Additional information was obtained from the NOAA/OGP Climate Information Program, Red Cross/CNN/IBM Disaster Relief, CNN, and O Estado de Sao Paulo. .