1) Since the beginning of the year, poorly distributed and significantly below average seasonal rainfall has led to deteriorating ground conditions, stressed vegetation and negatively impacted cropping activities and livestock throughout many parts of southwestern Africa. Many local areas in Angola and Namibia have experienced less than half of their normal rainfall accumulation since January.

1) Seasonal moisture deficits and below- average vegetative conditions remain following a mid-season dry spell that occurred in early November in northern Kenya and southern Somalia and below-average rains in November and December for much of eastern Africa. With an extended period of dryness for southern Kenya and northeastern Tanzania, this could result in a deterioration of pastoral and agro-pastoral conditions. Recent rains during the last few weeks, though, have provided improvement across southeastern Kenya.

The figures above reflect people internally displaced due to conflict based on IDMC monitoring in 2011, but does not include those internally displaced by other causes including natural disasters or development projects. The Kampala Convention comprehensively includes all causes of displacement.

Increased rainfall during the last week helped to improve mid-season dryness across Kenya and Somalia, however moderate seasonal deficits remain for many local areas.

1) Even with a reduction of precipitation last week, several weeks of above-average rainfall has led to significant moisture surpluses. An elevated potential for moderate to heavy rainfall may trigger additional flooding, damage local infrastructure, and negatively impact cropping activities throughout Uganda, Kenya, northern Tanzania,
Rwanda and Burundi.

• Locally heavy, above-average amounts of precipitation are expected to continue for portions of Kenya, Tanzania, and the Lake Victoria region during the next seven days.

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Overview of reported outbreaks in the WHO African Region
Based on data received from the Early Warning System through the Event Management System (EMS)*, 56 public health events were reported to the Regional Office covering the period January - August 2012 of which 89% were due to infectious diseases.

Ongoing outbreaks

• Cholera in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia
• Cholera in DR Congo
• Cholera in Zambia
• Ebola in DR Congo
• Ebola in Uganda

Key rains begin in the northern and western sectors of the region

Substantial improvement in rainfall after a slow start