NAIROBI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The greater Horn of Africa will experience drier than normal conditions between October and December as the drought that has ravaged the region continues, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said in a seasonal forecast released on Thursday.
The economic bloc's Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that its forecast shows that the region would experience failed rains for the fifth consecutive season between October and December.
"In particular, the drought-affected regions of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are expected to receive insufficient rainfall until the end of the year. These poor conditions are likely to extend to parts of Eritrea, most of Uganda, and Tanzania," IGAD said.
On the other hand, Djibouti, the eastern Afar region of Ethiopia, and central to northeastern South Sudan would receive above-average precipitation, and temperatures are expected to remain warmer than average across most of the region, added the institution.
Guleid Artan, ICPAC's director, said the October to December rainy season in the equatorial parts of the Greater Horn of Africa normally contributes up to 70 percent of the annual total rainfall, particularly in eastern Kenya.
Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of the IGAD, called on national governments, donors, humanitarian, and development actors to adopt a no-regret strategy and help the region weather the worst of this crisis.
ICPAC further estimated that the start of the rainy season is likely to be delayed across much of the eastern parts of the region, including southern Ethiopia, central and southern Somalia, eastern Kenya, much of Burundi, and Tanzania. ■