Why does the Sahel suffer from drought?

Why does the Sahel suffer from drought?

Since the 1970s, the Sahel has experienced drought conditions on a regular basis. This is down to physical and human factors: Overgrazing and deforestation on marginal land can lead to desertification . With less vegetation there is less transpiration and evaporation from the soil, causing less rainfall.

What are the problems in the Sahel?

Armed conflict, economic insecurity, and the adverse effects of climate change are some of the biggest challenges affecting the region. Indiscriminate attacks against civilians and public infrastructure -including schools and health facilities- have threatened the lives of millions of people and their livelihoods.

How is the Sahel being affected?

In the Sahel, droughts are becoming more and more intense. Temperatures are rising 1.5 times faster than in the rest of the world. Two out of three people in the Sahel countries live from agriculture and livestock. Under the combined effect of drought and floods, land is deteriorating and losing its fertility.

What impact did the drought have on West Africa?

A severe drought is causing increasing hunger across the Eastern Sahel in west Africa, affecting 10 million people in four countries, aid agencies warned today.

Where was the worst drought in Australia?

The 2000s drought in Australia, also known as the Millennium drought is said by some to be the worst drought recorded since European settlement. This drought affected most of southern Australia, including its largest cities and largest agricultural region (the Murray–Darling basin).

When was the last bad drought in Australia?

The Millennium drought: 1997 to 2009. Between 1997 and 2009 much of southern Australia experienced a prolonged period of dryness. Conditions were particularly severe in the densely populated southeast and southwest. The Murray–Darling Basin and virtually all the southern cropping zones were severely affected.