I plan to set up a page with a complete list of current worldwide droughts. But until I have that set up, here are the current droughts I have read about recently.
Africa
There’s chronic drought in the Horn of Africa. In particular, Djibouti has combined that with three subpar rainy seasons in a row for some serious problems.
"Food prices continue to rise, and without meat or milk, a lot of families are on the edge," said Fatma Samoura, WFP's Country Director for Djibouti.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200505020179.html
Asia/Middle East
Kate Woodsome of the Voice of America has an article about the seven month-long drought that is destroying the Cambodian rice crop.
But Yang Saing Koma, director of the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture, says aid is not a long-term solution. He says the drought is linked to the degradation of the country's water system.
"Now I see that many rivers are dying," he said. "If you go now across Cambodia, you see some rivers there is no water flowing. Not only because of the drought but because the watershed is not protected. There is no water coming into the river."
Cambodia is shaped like a bowl, with rains running from the surrounding mountains to feed lowland crops. But according to Yang Saing Koma, deforestation is destroying the natural water management system and measures must be taken to prevent an even greater crisis.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-05-02-voa18.cfm
Europe
No update.
Americas
Roughly 6 years and counting in the Southwest. I posted over on Readings about the parts of Glen Canyon that are now visible for the first time in thirty years. For a moment, reading the article, I imagined Edward Abbey would be torn about the fact that these areas he loved are only now visible because of a horrible drought. Then I realized: not likely. He would make sure to enjoy the chance to see the hidden valleys and vistas, and then would go right back to figuring out ways to gtet rid of Glen Canyon Dam.
Go read Susan Spano's original article at the LA Times.
Oceania
Australia has an ongoing drought. Two stories about it in this update. The first is the standard story about a drought: crop failure, worries about food and farmers, and talk about cost (both financial and human).
“Australia Grain - Drought Threatens to Devastate Crop”
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30650/story.htm
The second story is perhaps just as disturbing. Australia had a long drought in 2002 as well, with similar problems in grain production. And 2003-04, while not droughts, didn’t really rain so much as to make up for the earlier dryness. But because people are hearing about another drought, so soon after the last one, the fear is that they just won’t care very much. In this case, it relates to paying for drought support workers. Passion fatigue strikes.
“Fears raised over drought support workers' funding”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1357505.htm
