ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Dry and hot weather conditions persisted over the June-August period, worsening the impacts of drought in parts of the Horn of Africa (HOA), mainly Somalia, Kenya and southern Ethiopia, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.

The WFP, in its latest situation update released Monday, said "exceptionally long drought," amplified by warmer-than-normal temperatures, has devastated livelihoods, debilitated livestock herds, compromised crop production and vegetation regeneration, heightened water scarcity, lowered household incomes, and increased human displacement, especially in Somalia.

Noting the looming fifth consecutive poor rainy season across eastern HOA over the October-December period, the WFP warned that the situation will aggravate the prevailing drought conditions.

It also warned that the combined effect of drought and other shocks has worsened the food insecurity and malnutrition in drought-affected areas, and increased the risk of famine in parts of Somalia.

The WFP called on stakeholders in the various sectors to sustain and upscale humanitarian responses, enhance anticipatory actions such as forecast-based financing, and strengthen resilience building to cushion the already affected populations from further impacts of drought. Enditem

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