Drought

Drought is a non-seasonal climatic condition in which not enough rain falls to sustain the native plant and wildlife.

Droughts can be mild to severe, and the longer a drought continues, the more serious its impact on the environment. Plants and animals die, or animals may travel to other areas in order to survive.

Humans living in drought-stricken areas are particularly vulnerable. Most humans do not live nomadic lifestyles, so they find it difficult to simply move to another area, leaving their established settlements.

Hobbyists may have their stock spoilt by the effects of drought, but this is a small inconvenience compared with the human cost of severe drought.

Severe drought ruins crops, and so can cause rampant starvation and attending disease decimating entire populations. Even where the effects are less devastating, drought adversely affects the livelihood of farmers and others in the agricultural sectors.