Links

Biofuel crops could drain developing world dry

Article from Charlotte de Fraiture at the International Water Management Institute on the impact of Biofuel production on water resources (SciDev.Net, 11 October 2007).

http://www.dev-zone.org/downloads/Biofuel%20crops%20could%20drain%20developing%20world%20dry.doc

(Added: Tue Oct 16 2007   Hits: 67)

Drought Assessment and Mitigation in South West Asia

The drought assessment and mitigation project focuses primarily on parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and western India. The Project analyzes hydro-meteorological and human factors involved, conducts the reviews of the existing drought coping and management experiences in the region and identifies the existing knowledge gaps. The study is viewed as a quick survey of regional drought research and management in order to undertake a larger longer-term, regional drought assessment and mitigation program in the future.

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/droughtassessment

(Added: Mon Mar 29 2004   Modified: Tue Aug 29 2006   Hits: 185)

Drought in East Africa

This is a multimedia presentation on the drought presently ravaging East Africa. (Ben Werschkul, The New York Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/khtml/2006/04/18/world/20060418_DROUGHT_FEATURE.html

(Added: Fri May 05 2006   Modified: Fri Sep 01 2006   Hits: 109)

Humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Somalia

A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Somalia which is worsening at an alarming rate. Agencies are unable to get safe access to tens of thousands of people who are fleeing Mogadishu. All parties to the conflict must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, and ensure that humanitarians are allowed to deliver emergency assistance safely. (oxfam, December 2007)

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/applications/blogs/policy/2007/12/humanitarian_catastrophe_unfol.html

(Added: Mon Feb 11 2008   Hits: 25)

Living on the Edge of Emergency: an agenda for change

Every day 25,000 people die from hunger and poverty. More than 120 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are permanently living on the edge of emergency. Climate change, the HIV pandemic and population growth are all contributing to more frequent and severe emergencies. But so is the international community by responding inappropriately. This suffering is preventable. This report proposes the overhaul of the international aid system to correct its record of funding expensive and short-term emergency responses that has allowed so many to remain on the edge for so long. (Care International UK, September 2006)

http://www.careinternational.org.uk/Read+the+report+7699.twl

(Added: Fri Oct 06 2006   Modified: Fri Nov 10 2006   Hits: 123)

New Study Blames Western Pollution for Catastrophic Sahel Drought and Famine in Africa

(From the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, June 13). A study carried out by CSIRO's Dr Leon Rotstayn has identified atmospheric particles, known as sulfate aerosol, as contributing factors in the drought and subsequent famines that have affected the Sahel region of Africa since the 1960's. Concentrated mainly in the northern hemisphere, the major sources of these pollutants are Europe and North America.

http://www.dar.csiro.au/news/2002/MR05.html

(Added: Tue Jul 23 2002   Modified: Thu Aug 31 2006   Hits: 264)

Pastoral Early Warning and Early Response Systems in the Greater Horn of Africa

Proceedings from the workshop held 13th 15th November 2001, Whitesands Hotel, Mombasa, Kenya. This report summarizes the proceedings of a regional workshop on Pastoral Early Warning and Response Systems, held in Mombasa, Kenya from November 13-15, 2001. The workshop comes in the light of the recent drought emergencies in the Greater Horn of Africa, and grows out of a concern regarding the effectiveness of humanitarian emergency management in the region. While the people of the region remain highly food insecure, several trends indicate that the situation can be expected to worsen. This has clear implications for a strengthening of the existing early warning systems and response systems used to mitigate against such disasters.

http://www.fews.net/resources/gcontent/pdf/1000051.pdf

(Added: Thu Aug 08 2002   Modified: Thu Aug 31 2006   Hits: 260)

Sahel: A Prisoner of Starvation? - A Case Study of the 2005 Food Crisis in Niger

This report reviews the 2005 food crisis in Niger and assesses the response of the Nigerien government and the international donor community. It explores the role markets play in alleviating or aggravating food needs of the population. It examines the outcome of international economic reforms and development policies implemented in Niger during the past 25 years, finding that they appear to be driven by ideology instead of by a comprehensive analysis of development issues in the country. Implementation of policies emanating from the international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, withdrew state intervention from social and economic sectors. The report recommends strategies that can help make hunger in Sahel a thing of the past. (Frederic Mousseau with Anuradha Mittal, Oakland Institute, October 2006)

http://www.oaklandinstitute.org/pdfs/sahel.pdf

(Added: Tue Oct 17 2006   Hits: 125)

SOMALIA: Food, water shortages hit Galgadud

Little or no rain in Abudwaq district of the central Somali region of Galgadud has resulted in serious food and water shortages for thousands of residents. (IRIN, 28 January 2008)

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76446

(Added: Mon Feb 04 2008   Modified: Mon Feb 11 2008   Hits: 28)