DROUGHT

Drought in Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad

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Map: Drought in Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad

GDACS has tracked this drought in Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad since June 21, 2026, 121 days as of its latest update on October 20. It carries an ORANGE alert: significant impact is possible and international help may be needed.

TypeDrought
GDACS alertOrange
CountryDemocratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad
SinceJun 21, 2026
Tracked for121 days
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Detected by GDO.

What makes a drought

A drought is a long stretch of below-normal rain that leaves soils, rivers and reservoirs short of water. Unlike most disasters it creeps in over months, and its toll on crops, livestock and drinking water grows the longer it lasts.

Seen from space

Satellite picture, Satellite view · October 20, 2026
Satellite view · October 20, 2026

True color from the VIIRS instrument on the NOAA-20 satellite. The ring marks where the event was reported. Pictures: NASA Worldview (GIBS) from the daily satellite passes; clouds can hide the ground on some days.

GDACS report. Source: GDACS, the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System of the United Nations and the European Commission (CC BY 4.0).

Did you know?

A creeping disaster. Drought often has no clear start or end, which is why it is sometimes called a creeping disaster.

More: floods and droughts · all events

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