The Sahel Droughs

Location

Semi-arid region of the Sahara

Average rainfall per year

200-600 mm

What do el nino events cause

Reduced rainfall

Annual temperatures

30-40 degrees

Dates of the long-term droughts

1968-1974 and 1983-1985

Human causes of drought

• overgrazing

• deforestation

• rapid population growth

What does overgrazing cause

soil degradation

Social impacts

• food insecurity

• Malnutrition and disease

• migration

• conflict

Economic impacts

• crop failure

• livestock deaths

• reliance on food aid

• regional economic instability

Environmental impacts

• desertification

• loss of vegetation

• reduced biodiversity

Short-term responses

• food and water aid from NGOs (Red Cross)

• Emergency wells

• Drought-resistant crops

Long-term strategies

• reforestation

• crop rotation

• agroforestry

• irrigation schemes

• early warning systems

• education and community planning