Drought recurrence is a persistent phenomenon in Somalia. The latest one has continued
for the last three years. Although the subdued Gu rains that fell between April and May
provided some temporary relief, the depressed nature of this critical precipitation means
the country is still experiencing the pangs of the drought to a great extent. Rainfall failure is
traditionally viewed as a primary cause of a drought shock. Furthermore, over exploitation
of natural resources leading to their degradation especially the vegetation cover (trees,
grass etc) is a major contributor to drought conditions. The environmental degradation is
basically characterized by depleting the natural resources and environmental pollution.
These basic problems are themselves driven by population growth, rising urbanization,
overgrazing, deforestation, soil erosion and climate change.
