Food acquisition during the African drought of 1983–1984: A study of Kenyan herders

In 1983 and 1984, drought spread across the northern rangelands of Kenya and herders in lowland Samburu lost substantial portions of their livestock. Food aid arrived when 50 to 75% of the cattle had already died, and after poorer pastoralists were hungry enough to sell their remaining productive animals. No pastoralists died of the immediate effects of the drought, but many were so impoverished that their longer-term prospects for remaining as herders look dim.
This essay discusses the timing and content of famine relief as it applies both to Samburu and other food-stressed areas. It focuses on the process of food acquisition during the northern Kenyan drought itself. The more "indigenous" food strategies of herding, hunting and gathering offered limited benefits. Equally, however, commercial channels for procuring food proved inadequate. Herders could not reliably sell animals to obtain cash for purchased food, nor were the grain and sugar staples always available even when cash was on hand. Lacking means to provide for themselves, Samburu came to depend on varied kinds of handouts.     

Restocking refugee pastoralists in the horn of Africa

Repeated and lingering famine in the Horn of Africa has produced enormous pastoralist refugee populations in a region where livestock production is a major form of land use. Permanently settling destitute pastoralists has a record of failure. It can disrupt host land-uses, causing social and ecological problems, and prevent the utilization of very large grazing areas where pastoralism may be the only ecologically and economically sustainable land-use. Herd reconstitution should be considered an option in relief and rehabilitation programmes for pastoralists. This paper examines a design where the most proven and immediate way of sustaining stockless pastoralists – farming – can be used to facilitate restocking objectives. Using data gathered in Somalia, estimates of livestock carrying capacity are linked with forage resources, land area, livestock units, and the frequency of good, average, and poor (drought) water years, to explore the possibilities for incorporating restocking into refugee rehabilitation efforts.     

Impact of a commercial destocking relief intervention in Moyale district, southern Ethiopia

A commercial destocking intervention was piloted in southern Ethiopia during the drought of early 2006. The intervention led to the purchase of an estimated 20,000 cattle valued at USD 1.01 million. On average, destocked households received USD 186 from the sale of cattle--approximately 5,405 households were involved. In terms of aid investment, the approximate cost-benefit ratio was 41:1. During the drought, income from destocking accounted for 54.2 per cent of household income (n = 114 households), and was used to buy food, care for livestock, meet various domestic expenses, support relatives, and either pay off debts or augment savings. Seventy-nine per cent of the income derived from destocking was used to buy local goods or services. Expenditure on livestock care amounted to 36.5 per cent of local spending, and included the private transportation of livestock to better grazing areas. The buoyant livestock export trade was considered to be an important driver of commercial destocking, demonstrating a positive link between livestock and meat exports, and pastoral vulnerability during drought.     

Drought and development in marsabit district, kenya

Extensive drought in the 1970s and 1980s prompted national and international development efforts aimed at the pastoralist populations of Marsabit District of Kenya. Famine relief efforts by the Catholic Church and the African Inland Mission contributed to the settling of former nomads and the growth of small towns, while international development efforts, including UNESCO's Integrated Project in Arid Lands (IPAL) focused on range conservation and the improvement of livestock marketing. The sedentarization of pastoralists has led to greater access to health care, education, and other social services, but has also contributed to economic differentiation and rural proletarianization. Local economies are now based on a combination of subsistence pastoralism, livestock marketing, and wage-labor, indicating that the process of sedentarization is a complex one with varying consequences for different sectors of the population.     

Livestock mortality in pastoralist herds in Ethiopia and implications for drought response

Participatory epidemiology methods were employed retrospectively in three pastoralist regions of Ethiopia to estimate the specific causes of excess livestock mortality during drought. The results showed that starvation/dehydration accounted for between 61.5 and 100 per cent of excess livestock mortality during drought, whereas disease‐related mortality accounted for between 0 and 28.1 per cent of excess mortality. Field observations indicate that, in livestock, disease risks and mortality increase in the immediate post‐drought period, during rain. The design of livelihoods‐based drought response programmes should include protection of core livestock assets, and it should take account of the specific causes of excess livestock mortality during drought and immediately afterwards. This study shows that, when comparing livestock feed supplementation and veterinary support, relatively more aid should be directed at the former if the objective is to protect core livestock during drought. Veterinary support should consider disease‐related mortality in the immediate post‐drought period, and tailor inputs accordingly.     

Ecological stress and political coercion in the Sudan

This article outlines the impact of state intervention on ecological relations in the Sudan. The establishment of large-scale mechanised agricultural schemes; population and livestock concentration around water sources; and the evolution of large urban centres with high demands for firewood and charcoal have all contributed to ecological degradation. These effects have been coupled with the use of coercive measures to displace traditional farmers and pastoralists from their lands in favour of large-scale farming schemes. The objectives of government policy have suffered a double retreat – from development to crisis management and from crisis management to the bare maintenance of compliance and order. The inability of the state to intervene on behalf of the victims of drought and famine has led to the use of coercion as the only means to legitimise its hold on power.     

DROUGH TREND IN NORTH CHINA IN RECENT FIFTY YEARS

Inrecentseveralyears ,abnormaldroughtoccursinthepartnorthernofChina .Itex ertssomeinfluenceonChina’snationaleconomyandhasarousedwideattentionfromallwalksoflife .Muchresearchindrought wetindexhasbeendonebothathomeandabroad .Theresultcanbeclassifiedintotwocategories:first,droughtindexdirectlyisdefinedbyprecipitationorothermeteorologicalfactors;second ,droughtindexisidentifiedbycalculatinggainingandlos ingoflocalwaterinaccordancewithequationofwaterbalance ,andsomealsoconsidertheim pactofdrought…     

近半世纪华北干旱化趋势研究

首先 ,提出了一种新的干湿指数 ,该指数的主要特点是它是相对于一地的水份需要量而言的 ,并且针对干旱的特点 ,考虑了前期降水对近期干旱现象的贡献。利用该指数 ,对我国华北近几十年来的干湿变化进行了讨论 ,发现近半个世纪以来 ,华北的干旱化趋势是十分明显的。其次 ,对华北干旱化的季节结构和周期性变化特点进行了研究 ,得出了一些有意义的结论。最后 ,讨论了近年来华北的连续干旱现象 ,指出近两年来的连续干旱是近 5 0年来最为严重的 ,并且到目前为止仍没有明显的结束趋势 ,值得我们进一步关注。     

Forced migration, processes of return and livelihood construction among pastoralists in northern Sudan

The Hawaweer, a nomadic, pastoralist group in northern Sudan, were seriously affected by the drought in the Sahel during the mid-1980s. Their experience illustrates the connection between internally displaced people, normal mobility, forced migration, dilemmas and opportunities of return and how new livelihoods can be successfully constructed based on traditional rights, strong local institutions and external resources. Some displaced Hawaweer got the chance to return to their homeland as new livelihood opportunities were established; others did not get this opportunity nor would they have returned if they had been given the chance. In both situations, the processes of displacement and return had an impact on the sense of belonging and identity.     

The Role of Food Aid in Drought and Recovery: Oxfam's North Turkana (Kenya) Drought Relief Programme, 1992–94

Regional droughts carry the seeds of catastrophe: the immediate risk is famine; the long-term risk is destitution. Preventing both situations is an appropriate, if not essential, goal for relief agencies. In the past, responses to hunger in Turkana District (north-west Kenya) have taken the form of traditional feeding programmes. A better understanding of the boom/bust cycles in pastoralist systems has, however, produced new relief strategies. A central tenet of these strategies is the acceptance that relief aid should assume two roles: humanitarian—to overcome food deficits—and economic—to overcome 'income' deficits. Arguments in favour of a broader role for food aid are tested with a case study of a drought relief programme in north Turkana between 1992–1994. Field studies confirmed that when food aid is integrated as an asset into household resources, it can strengthen economic recovery. Ultimately, the extent to which relief operations are able to protect both people's lives and their livelihoods is the key to more sustainable development in drought-prone areas.     

"Droughts have Different Tails": Response to Crises in Mukogodo Division, North Central Kenya, 1950s-1980s

In this essay I discuss the response to crises of Maasai speaking pastoralists in Mukogodo Division, North Central Kenya. I begin with the reminder that the Maasai term currently translated as "drought", olamei, refers primarily to any situation of want of which meteorological drought is only one possible cause. It is therefore preferable to speak of crises, rather than of "droughts". 1 then review the crises which have affected Mukogodo pastoralism since the turn of the century in a wider socioeconomic and political perspective. I then show how the crises of 1981 and 1984 have led to a process of stratification, which locks the poorer half of the population into an unviable and residual "labour reserve pastoralism" with declining chances of recovery.     

辽西北地区农业干旱灾害风险评价与风险区划研究

以辽西北29个农业县(市、区)为研究区域,选取辽西北最主要的玉米作物作为研究对象,从造成农业干旱灾害的致灾因子危险性、承灾体暴露性、脆弱性和抗旱减灾能力4个方面着手,利用自然灾害风险指数法、加权综合评价法和层次分析法,建立了农业干旱灾害风险指数(ADRI),用以表征农业干旱灾害风险程度;借助GIS技术,绘制辽西北农业干旱灾害风险评价区划图,将风险评价区划图与2006年辽西北受干旱影响粮食减产系数区划图对比,发现两者可以较好的匹配。研究结果可为当地农业干旱灾害预警、保险,以及有关部门的旱灾管理、减灾决策制定提供理论依据和指导。     

农业旱灾脆弱性评价--以北方农牧交错带兴和县为例

基于区域自然灾害系统理论,构建了农业旱灾灾害系统及其脆弱性评价指标体系,建立了农业旱灾脆弱性综合评价模型,指出农业旱灾脆弱性评价是一个过程性评价:灾前-灾中强调区域农业生产系统的易损性,灾中-灾后强调区域里的人应对旱灾的适应性.以地处北方农牧交错带的兴和县为例,进行了农业旱灾脆弱性评价,结果表明:农牧交错带的农业旱灾脆弱性在县域尺度上主要受农牧用地比例的影响,在农户尺度上取决于非农牧收入比例的大小,所以合理、有效的农牧结合发展和非农牧产业发展有利于降低该地区的农业旱灾脆弱性.     

电力系统自然灾害的现状与对策

回顾了近年来世界各国的电力系统在自然灾害下的运行安全状况，特别是我国电力系统的主要自然灾害状况。重点介绍了电力系统在灾害性强风和地震作用下所受的影响。近年的自然灾害说明，开展我国电力系统防御重大自然灾害的研究和风险评估工作，建立电力系统自然灾害事故的预警机制、应急反应机制和灾后快速恢复重建机制，是提高电力系统防灾能力的关键。     

江苏省梅雨及其灾害影响评估分析

根据江苏省近50年来的梅雨资料,用数学统计方法对入、出梅的迟早作了定义,考虑到梅期的长短、梅雨量及暴雨日数等3个因子,给出了梅雨强度计算模型及梅期旱涝指标,并分析了江苏省淮河以南地区近50年来梅期旱涝分布特征,最后阐述了入梅迟早对旱涝灾害的影响.     

The 2009/2010 Caribbean drought: a case study

The impacts of drought in the Caribbean have not been as dramatic as in some other parts of world, but it is not exempt from the experiences of drought. As a result of the effects of a prolonged drought in 2009/2010, the agenda for the 21st Inter‐Sessional Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) paid particular attention to the issue of drought. This paper reviews the management framework for responding to drought disasters in five CARICOM countries. The paper also reports on some of the effects of the 2009/2010 drought with particular reference to Grenada and the Grenadines. During the drought in these islands there were numerous bush fires with devastating effects on agriculture, severe water shortages that impacted on the tourism industry and other social effects. It is evident that there was inadequate preparation for the event. Greater planning and investment are therefore required to reduce future impacts.     

面向问题的自然灾害监测与评估集成系统研究

本文描述具体应用在诸如洪水、林火、地震、雪灾、旱灾、虫害等重大自然灾害遥感监测与评估的面向问题的地理信息专题系统。简称灾害集成系统。该系统运行在ＵＮＩＸ平台上，采用面向要素的数据模型，用广义的关系数据库系统实现空间数据和非空间数据的存储管理。     

云南突发灾害现场应急气象服务体系的构建

近年来极端天气、气候事件频发,影响日趋广泛,为制定防灾、减灾、抗灾决策,更好地保护人民生命财产安全,迫切需要气象服务为地震、山洪泥石流等自然灾害现场提供更具针对性、准确性的基础保障。该文对2014年云南鲁旬6.5级地震现场应急气象保障服务过程回顾,总结应急现场气象服务的不足,分析应急现场气象服务的需求和特点,提出满足云南省突发灾害应急现场气象服务体系的主要功能,并具体分析系统各功能部分的设计技术要点。     

吉林省城市干旱缺水风险评价体系与模型研究

以吉林省地级城市为研究对象,从造成城市干旱缺水的致灾因子危险性,承灾体的暴露性、脆弱性和防旱抗旱能力四个方面着手,利用自然灾害指数法、加权综合评价法和层次分析法,建立了城市干旱缺水风险评价模型,引用城市干旱缺水风险指数(UDRI),对城市干旱缺水风险程度进行了评价,并借助GIS技术绘制了吉林省城市干旱缺水风险分布图,以期为实现吉林省水资源可持续利用、保障区域经济可持续发展和老工业基地改造战略实施提供科学依据.     

From food aid to livelihoods support: rethinking the role of WFP in eastern Sudan

Despite more than 20 years of distribution of free emergency food in eastern Sudan (38 years in the case of refugees) Global Acute Malnutrition rates are currently the highest in the country. There has been no real improvement in the chronic livelihoods vulnerability that affects people in the region—particularly pastoralists. Food security must be seen from an informed livelihoods perspective. While food aid may still be required as part of transition, WFP must rethink its assistance strategy and advocate for complementarity in the efforts by development actors working across a range of sectors. Alternative models and interventions focused on the rehabilitation of markets and the development of' cargo nets' for the destitute, including cash transfers, must be developed and tested. Land tenure issues should be given particular attention. Food aid will probably remain an important element in the overall response, but its significance relative to other less developed forms of interventions should be reassessed.