A severe shortage of rainfall this year has triggered drought conditions in Yeda Woreda of North Gondar, affecting 18 of the woreda’s 22 kebeles and exposing tens of thousands of residents to serious difficulties.
Gebrehiwot Belayneh, an official with the woreda’s Agricultural Bureau, told Tikvah Ethiopia that 95,500 of the woreda’s estimated 122,000 residents are facing serious problems due to the drought.
The area has experienced failed or insufficient rainy seasons in previous years, but the situation has worsened significantly this year, according to the Agricultural Bureau. The rainfall shortage has been particularly severe in the Dega highland areas, located at elevations of roughly 2,500 to 3,500 meters above sea level. According to the bureau, the rains expected during the season were delayed and only began falling on July 26, significantly later than expected. Even after their arrival, the rainfall remained intermittent, further disrupting the agricultural season.
The delayed rains have also affected agricultural land across the woreda. Of the 17,075 hectares of land planted with crops, 14,375 hectares have been affected by drought, according to the Agricultural Bureau. This represents the vast majority of the cultivated area, raising concerns over crop yields and the livelihoods of farming households.
The drought has also taken a heavy toll on livestock. More than 15,000 livestock have died due to the drought, Gebrehiwot told Tikvah Ethiopia website, highlighting the severe impact of the prolonged rainfall shortage on pastoral and farming communities. The worsening conditions have also forced some residents to leave the affected areas in search of better livelihoods and access to essential resources. A total of 6,550 people have reportedly left the woreda and migrated to other areas, Gebrehiwot said.
Although no human deaths have been reported in the area, the worsening conditions could further reduce agricultural production and increase pressure on vulnerable households if sufficient and sustained rainfall does not arrive.
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