drought

UNOCHA/Giles Clarke

Drought in Somalia could hit not only livelihoods but also ‘pastoralists identity’ 

22 May 2019
Interviews

With drought in Somalia on the verge of affecting 2.2 million across the country - almost a fifth of the population - UN agencies are calling for urgent funds for critical livelihood support.   Stressing that drought is causing crops to fail and livestock to die, OCHA’s Justin Brady said that not only livelihoods were at stake, but the whole centuries-old “identity” of pastoralists in the region. 

Audio -
5'
UNOCHA/Giles Clarke

News in Brief 15 May 2019

15 May 2019
News in Brief
  • Pacific Islands have ‘moral authority’ to demand climate action: UN chief
  • WHO launches online tool to tackle ‘urgent need’ to combat threats to global health
  • Nearly a fifth of Somalis at risk from ‘disastrous’ drought
Audio -
2'30"
UN Photo

News in Brief 2 May 2019

2 May 2019
News in Brief
  • Harsh drought conditions in Somalia could trigger major humanitarian crisis, UN warns 
  • World Tuna Day highlights importance of sustainably managed fish stocks for the health of the ocean  
  • Festival in Bonn to drive action towards meeting SDGs 
Audio -
2'28"
© UNHCR/Markel Redondo

News in Brief 21 December 2018

21 December 2018
News in Brief
  • Dozens of migrants dead and missing, adds to mounting toll off Spanish coast
  • Drought threatens millions in northeast Syria along with continued fighting
  • South Sudan Mission ‘strongly condemns’ assault and detention of ceasefire monitors
Audio -
2'49"
UNICEF/Adrak

Afghan children used as ‘collateral’ with even babies promised in marriage

3 December 2018
Interviews

Families in Afghanistan are being forced into debt, “making the difficult decision of using their children as collateral”, says the Chief of Communications for UNICEF in Afghanistan, Alison Parker.

Audio -
3'34"
UNAMA

Agriculture the ‘backbone’ of Afghan economy: FAO says amid severe drought

27 November 2018
Interviews

People are “used to the suffering we see in Afghanistan,” the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director of Emergency and Rehabilitation, Dominique Burgeon says, and the country needs urgent support to combat a major crisis in the face of drought and conflict.

Audio -
8'37"
UN Geneva/Daniel Johnson

2019 could be 'make or break' for Afghanistan, says top UN aid official

26 November 2018
General News

Drought in Afghanistan has left more than 3.6 million people “barely surviving” and displaced some 250,000 people from rural areas, the UN’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan said on Monday. Toby Lanzer told Daniel Johnson of UN News, that 2019 could be "make or break" for the country. 

Audio -
6'23"
FAO

With field schools in Kenya, UN agriculture agency teaches techniques to combat drought

21 November 2018
SDGs

To strengthen resilience in the Horn of Africa against natural hazards like drought, which can lead to cattle losses and increased food insecurity, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is supporting pastoralists in northeastern Kenya’s Mandera County to grow pasture for livestock.

UNICEF/UN0228998/Chakam

News in Brief 16 November 2018

16 November 2018
News in Brief
  • UNICEF adds voice to concerns over Rohingya return to Myanmar
  • Afghanistan alert – widespread drought affects 3.5m people
Audio -
3'44"
UN Geneva/Daniel Johnson

El Niño likely to contribute to worsening food situation for millions in Zimbabwe

13 November 2018
Interviews

Farmers in Zimbabwe have already struggled with erratic rainfall and a fragile economy this year, but now they look set to suffer the effects of an El Niño-related drought.  In a bid to help an estimated 3.9 million people who face severe food insecurity between now and April, the World Food Programme (WFP) and partners are stepping up relief to those most in need. WFP’s Niels Balzer spoke with UN News's Daniel Johnson.

Audio -
6'24"