From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Wed Aug 26 2009 - 12:08:27 EDT
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
Climate experts warn of heavy rainfall
Written By:Judith Akolo , Posted: Wed, Aug 26, 2009
The Greater Horn of Africa sub-region is set for heavy rainfall as a
result of the predicted El Nino weather phenomenon.
A report released at the 24th Climate Outlook Forum indicates that
temperatures in the equatorial pacific have been rising by about one
degree Celsius above the normal temperatures.
This signifies what the meteorologists call a basin-wide El Nino.
The effects of this weather event will see the Inter Governmental
Authority on Development - Igad region countries receiving heavy
rainfall.
According to the forecast the equatorial western and eastern parts of
the Greater Horn of Africa - GHA this is Western Kenya, Uganda and
Southern part of Southern Sudan will receive heavy rainfall.
This will be the same for North Eastern parts of Kenya, parts of Coast
province and Somalia.
The Rift Valley areas of Kenya, Northern Tanzania and Central Sudan are
expected to receive near normal rainfall.
The experts at a two days workshop that brought together Ethiopia,
Eritrea, Uganda, Somalia, Burundi, Rwanda and hosts Kenya predicted
sufficient rainfall for a region that has suffered rainfall deficit for
many successive seasons.
They however warn that the predicted above normal rainfall over some
parts of the region may not have immediate positive impacts.
Experts from the water resources management urged for measures aimed at
harvesting the excess water as a result of the expected deluge.
The agriculture and food security sector representatives who attended
the workshop called for policy measures to maximise food production to
ameliorate the current food deficit that has seen high inflation rates
on account of high food prices associated with the food shortage for the
region with over 120 million population.
On the downside, the experts from the health sectors warned of yellow
fever outbreaks in the perennially arid and semi arid - Asals regions
when the heavy rains set in beginning next month.
The malaria experts also called for mitigation measures to address
epidemics in the endemic areas.
There is also the fear that flooding could displace large populations in
some of the regions as rivers burst their banks.
The climate experts are urging policy planners to maximise utilization
of the expected heavy rainfall.
http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=59451
<http://www.radiobridge.net/www/horn-e.gif>
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