World Bank Funds $210m Groundwater Project as Drought Intensifies

Sep 24 , 2022


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A sustainable groundwater project in drought-prone lowland areas of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia was launched last week with 210 million dollars in funding from the World Bank. The six-year initiative looks to supplement water supply in 55 weredas, conduct research on water availability in 12 more, and implement irrigation projects in four weredas of Borana in the Oromia Regional State. The launch comes as the Horn of Africa struggles with what the UN called "the worst drought in four decades." The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) says that at least 16 million people residing in drought-affected areas in the country's east and south require humanitarian assistance beginning now until the end of the year at least. Reports published months ago revealed that no less than a million heads of cattle had died due to the drought.


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