Drought in the Sahel

Map showing location of Sahel

Food for distribution Yabelo area, Southwest Ethiopia

The Sahel region of Africa has been suffering from drought on a regular basis since the early 1980s. The area naturally experiences alternating wet and dry seasons, but if the rains fail, it can cause drought and much suffering.

In addition to natural factors, the land is marginal, and human activities such as overgrazing, over-cultivation and collection of firewood can lead to desertificationdesertification: Desertification is the spread of desert conditions in arid regions due to human activities, drought or climate change., particularly when combined with drought conditions.

The result is crop failure, soil erosion, famine, and hunger, which then means that people are less able to work when their need is greatest. In Niger in 2004, a plague of locusts consumed any remaining crops which made the situation worse It becomes a vicious circle and can result in many deaths, especially among vulnerable groups such as infants and the elderly. People then rely on food aid from the international community.

Food aid in itself is unsustainable in the long term. What is really needed is development aid, which involves the local community in education in farming practices.