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Drought
Drought refers to a persistent period during which rainfall is scarce or even absent, causing shortages of water for human and livestock consumption, irrigation and industrial use. The situation may be caused by a decrease in the natural rainfall or human factors, e.g. damaging the water reservation system. Moreover, the world climate has shown significant changes in recent years. Many areas are still suffering from droughts in rainy seasons. Consequently, the crops cannot grow and people do not have enough potable water supply. Farmers have been directly affected in their livelihood and food shortages have occurred as a result.
To poor people, a drought lasting for several months will cause famine because they will not be able to grow anything on their land and will have no money to buy food either. Furthermore, in times of food shortage, food prices will always go up to levels unaffordable to the poor. Starvations caused by droughts around the world have become increasingly serious. Ethiopia, an African country, has suffered from droughts the last three years. At the beginning of 2000, there were over eight million people suffering from food and water shortages, and they have to rely on help from other countries and non-government organizations.
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