The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has urged humanitarian partners and international donors to scale up efforts aimed at preventing the drought-induced humanitarian crisis in the region.

IGAD said it was alarmed at the serious drought situation in the region, which is widely regarded as the worst in 40 years.

The call is contained in a communique issued at the end of the 39th IGAD Extraordinary Summit of the Assembly of Heads of States in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

IGAD, which has Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda as member countries, had called for support due to the worsening drought conditions, food insecurity and other impacts of climate change in the Horn of Africa.

‘[We] noted with concern that the humanitarian and health situation in the IGAD region continues to deteriorate due to the widespread and prolonged drought further compounded by the shortage of food supplies caused by the conflict in Ukraine; the impact of [Covid – 19] on health systems and infrastructure; and heavy flooding in some parts of the region’, the communique read.

The body urged respective governments , humanitarian and development partners and international donors to direct all efforts and commitments to prevent the further worsening of the humanitarian crisis in the region.

It also called for livelihood programmes to be scaled up to protect the lives and livelihoods of farmers, agro-pastoralists, and pastoralist communities.

Meanwhile, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya has called on his colleagues to work together towards sustainable solutions to challenges that pose a threat to regional peace and security.

Speaking at the summit, the Kenyan leader cited violent extremism, drought and armed conflicts as some of the challenges that require urgent attention from the IGAD leaders.

Photo source: IGAD