TIKS4DRR


 Drought

A drought is a period of abnormally dry weather characterized by a prolonged deficiency of precipitation below a certain threshold over a large area and a period longer than a month. Droughts can be caused by various hydrometeorological processes that suppress precipitation and/or limit surface water or groundwater availability (UNDRR, 2017). 

Ethiopian women during drought (Wikimedia Commons)

Types of Drought

Which occurs when the precipitation in an area or region is significantly lower than the normal or expected amount for a certain period of time.

Which occurs when the water levels in streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, or groundwater are significantly lower than the normal or average levels for a certain period of time.

Which occurs when the soil moisture or irrigation water is insufficient to meet the water needs of crops or livestock.

is a result of all the above and occurs when the water supply is inadequate to meet the water demand of various sectors of society, such as domestic, industrial, or environmental.

Secondary hazards

Wildfires

In 2019-2020, a historic drought in Australia fuelled unprecedented bushfires that burned more than 18 million hectares of land, killed at least 34 people and over a billion animals, and emitted huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

Famine

In 2011-2012, a severe drought in the Horn of Africa affected more than 13 million people, causing widespread famine, displacement, and conflict.

Social Conflict

In 2014-2017, a prolonged drought in Syria worsened the civil war and contributed to the rise of the Islamic State group, as well as triggering a massive refugee crisis.

Examples of Traditional and Indigenous knowledge

  • Communities, such as the Hopi in the US, the Quechua in Peru, and the Millet Network in India, use drought-resistant crops and varieties, such as corn, quinoa, and millet, which can survive and produce in low-water conditions. These crops and varieties are also adapted to the local soil, climate, and pests, and provide food and nutrition security (Islam, 2023).
Capacity building for tolerant maize plantation (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Some communities, such as the Maroons in Suriname, the Zuni in the US, and the Sri Lankans in the dry zone, practice water harvesting and conservation, which help them collect and store rainwater or runoff water for domestic or agricultural use. They use various techniques, such as wells, ponds, tanks, canals, ditches, or terraces, to capture and conserve water (Islam, 2023).
Traditional rainwater harvesting in Ethiopia (Flickr)
  • Some communities, such as the Maori in New Zealand, the Balinese in Indonesia, and the Maya in Mexico, perform rituals and prayers, which help them cope with drought. They offer sacrifices, offerings, or chants, to appease or invoke the gods or spirits that control the water. They also seek guidance, protection, or healing, to strengthen their faith and resilience (Jobbová, Helmke, & Bevan, 2018).

References

Islam, M. S. (2023). Indigenous Knowledge in Drought Prediction and Drought Management. Retrieved from Cultivation and Drought Management in Agriculture: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-35418-2_5

Jobbová, E., Helmke, C., & Bevan, A. (2018). Ritual responses to drought: An examination of ritual expressions. Retrieved from Human Ecology: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10745-018-0019-6.pdf

Sun, Q., Fu, C., Bai, Y., Oduor, A. M., & Cheng, B. (2023). Livelihood Diversification and Residents’ Welfare: Evidence from Maasai Mara National Reserve. Retrieved from International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/3859

UNDRR. (2017). Disaster Risk Reduction Terminology. Retrieved from The Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Glossary: https://www.undrr.org/drr-glossary/terminology

https://www.undrr.org/understanding-disaster-risk/terminology/hips/mh0035

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