The March-May 2021 rainy season saw a late start in many areas, with drier than usual conditions recorded across south-eastern, eastern, and northern regions of Kenya, north-western Uganda, southern South Sudan, north-central and central Ethiopia, and southern Somalia, as of 20 May.

While rains, in general, increased in late April and early May, the exceptionally dry start to the season delayed crops, and these delays will likely affect crop production, especially in central-eastern Kenya, central-eastern Ethiopia, and southern Somalia.

FSNWG calls for partners and governments to urgently put in place anticipatory action programmes, including safety nets, to protect affected households from the expected impacts of the ongoing poor rainy season. Preparations should also be made now for emergency food, nutrition, and livelihood assistance programmes given expectations of growing food insecurity and needs in the coming months in affected areas.