Horn of Africa on track for 5th failed rainy season: WMO

People wait for water with containers at a camp, one of the 500 camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in town, in Baidoa, Somalia, on February 13, 2022. (File/AFP)
Updated 26 August 2022
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Horn of Africa on track for 5th failed rainy season: WMO

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday that forecasts for October-December show high chances of drier-than-average conditions in the Horn of Africa as the worst drought in more than 40 years looks almost certain to persist.

“Sadly, our models show with a high degree of confidence that we are entering the 5th consecutive failed rainy season in the Horn of Africa,” said Guleid Artan, Director of the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC), WMO’s regional climate center for East Africa.

“In Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, we are on the brink of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” he added.


Spain says Venezuela freed three more Spanish prisoners

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Spain says Venezuela freed three more Spanish prisoners

MADRID: Venezuela has freed three more Spanish prisoners following the US ouster of long-time strongman Nicolas Maduro, after five were released last week, Spain’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.
The releases on Monday concerned three Spanish-Venezuelan dual nationals, with one deciding to stay in the South American country and another set to return to Spain, Jose Manuel Albares told Catalunya Radio.
“This is a second step that we consider very positive, and in this new phase we encourage the Venezuelan government to continue moving forward in that direction,” he said.