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         Drought Natural Disasters:     more books (63)
  1. Pacific drought intensifies fire risks. (Pacific Northwest) (Supplement: California & The Western States): An article from: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management by Garry Chandler, 1992-07-06
  2. Dreadful Droughts (Awesome Forces of Nature) by Victoria Parker, 2003-08-26
  3. Drought Follows the Plow: Cultivating Marginal Areas
  4. Droughts in Australia: Drought in Australia, Federation Drought, 1911-1916 Australian Drought, 1979-1983 Eastern Australian Drought
  5. Dangerous Planet: The Science of Natural Disasters (Avalanche to Earthquake, Volume 1) by Engelbert Phillis, 2001
  6. Nine fallacies of a natural disaster: The case of the Sahel by Micheal H Glantz, 1976
  7. The scourage [sic] of natural disasters by J. S Oguntoyinbo, 1975
  8. Droughts (Nature on the Rampage) by Duncan Scheff, 2003-06-19
  9. Nature on the Rampage: Droughts (Nature on the Rampage) by Duncan Scheff,
  10. The effect of drought conditions upon village water supply and public health in Mauritania (WASH field report) by Ralph E Preble, 1984
  11. The salvation of mankind from catastrophes such as abnormal heat and cold, droughts, thunderstorms, blizzards, cyclones, tornadoes, hurricanes, typhoons, ... volcanic eruptions and other catastrophes by Richard Paul Rodrian, 1929
  12. Measuring Drought and Drought Impacts in Red Sea Province, Sudan: Oxfam Research Discussion Papers (Oxfam Research Papers) by Roy Cole, 1989-04
  13. Dangerous Weather: Includes a Chronology of Weather, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Blizzards, Floods, Droughts by Michael Allaby, 1998-01
  14. Recurrent famines from drought and floods: Published in the Romsey Advertiser, at Andover in Hampshire by Archibald Henry Swinton, 1923

41. World Watch Daily: Natural Disasters
natural disasters. Arizona. Flash floods in Texas, Idaho, New Mexicoand Nebraska. drought just about everywhere else. What could
http://worldwatchdaily.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.show/subj/natdis/orig/7819/
Free email news alerts Send us a news article Today's News Africa Analysis ... W.W.D. Editorials Search this site: Articles Booklets Sermon Transcripts About this website Read our Natural Disasters < Previous 20 Next 20>> Freak storms claim lives from China to eastern Europe
Storms wreaked havoc across China and huge swaths of eastern Asia and Europe yesterday, claiming up to 140 lives amid a summer of freak weather around the globe...
From "The Independent (UK)" Dated: 8/11/2002 Volcano erupts on deserted island
A volcano has erupted on a deserted Japanese island in the Pacific Ocean, spewing smoke and ash into the air for the first time in 63 years...
From "The Australian" Dated: 8/12/2002 Russian floods toll reaches 58
GIANT cranes hoisted ruined cars and other debris out of the Black Sea, as the death toll from torrential flooding that hit the Russian resort region rose to 58...
From "The Australian" Dated: 8/12/2002 Mugabe is starving his own people
People are being starved in Zimbabwe by President Robert Mugabe's deliberate and systematic ploy of using food shortages to cling to power...
From "The Telegraph (UK)" Dated: 8/9/2002 Torrential Rains Kill in Europe
Torrential rains in Europe inundated Austrian villages Thursday, swept away campers on Russia's Black Sea coast, flooded London's subway system and battered vineyards and olive groves in northern Italy. At least five people were killed in some of the continent's worst flooding in decades...

42. LIS Home LIS Help Privacy Statment Live Help General Assembly
significant agricultural losses from natural disasters over the past twentyfouryears, and drought has been a major cause of losses due to natural disasters.
http://leg2.state.va.us/dls/_2d0j76p3fcdpg_.nsf/d035e5a60132441d85256b0a0063ec73

43. LIS Home LIS Help Privacy Statment Live Help General Assembly
7. Preparedness, including the strategies for reducing potential losses, is veryimportant in dealing with natural disasters, such as drought, which impact the
http://leg2.state.va.us/dls/_2d0j76p3fcdpg_.nsf/d035e5a60132441d85256b0a0063ec73

44. Thalif Deen, Alarming Rise In Natural Disasters
humanitarian assistance, Annan says the rash of recent natural disasters includefloods Brazil, landslides in Latin America and the Caribbean, drought in North
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/29/034.html
Documents menu Date: Tue, 28 Jul 98 11:05:51 CDT
From: rich@pencil.math.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Organization: PACH
Article: 40031
/** headlines: 137.0 **/
** Written 6:32 PM Jul 27, 1998 by econet in cdp:headlines **
/* Written 4:07 PM Jul 27, 1998 by newsdesk@igc.org in ips.english */
Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.
*** 24-Jul-98 ***
Alarming Rise in Natural Disasters
By Thalif Deen, IPS
24 July 1998
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 24 (IPS) - The United Nations says the number, and scale, of environmental emergencies throughout the world are increasing at an alarming rate. In a report on U.N. humanitarian assistance, Annan says the rash of recent natural disasters include floods in the Horn of Africa and central and eastern Europe, forest fires in Indonesia and Brazil, landslides in Latin America and the Caribbean, drought in North Korea and earthquakes in Iran. In the 12 months to early 1998, the United Nations provided assistance to 51 member states in their efforts to cope with the devastating impact of 77 natural disasters and environmental emergencies. From September to November 1997, parts of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand were seriously affected by dense haze stemming primarily from large-scale forest fires in Indonesia. These fires were, in turn, caused by using fire and land clearing, and aggravated by the El-Nino induced drought conditions. The overall area under fire was about two million hectares.

45. UNESCO Thesaurus: Alphabetical List
disasters MT 2.60 Pollution, disasters and safety FR Catastrophe naturelle SP Desastrenatural UF natural hazards BT1 disasters NT1 drought NT1 Earthquakes NT1
http://www.ulcc.ac.uk/unesco/terms/list101.htm
UNESCO Thesaurus: alphabetical list
National government - Nature conservation
National government USE Central government National history
MT 3.25 History FR Histoire nationale SP Historia nacional African history American history Latin American history North American history ... European history RT Nations
National identity
MT 3.05 Culture FR Identité nationale SP Identidad nacional UF National character, National consciousness Cultural nationalism Cultural identity RT National anthems RT National stereotypes
National income
MT 6.25 Economics FR Revenu national SP Ingreso nacional National accounting RT Financial resources RT Gross national product RT Income distribution RT Incomes policy RT Public finance
National information systems
MT 5.25 Documentary information systems FR Système d'information national SP Sistema de información nacional Information systems
National languages
MT 3.30 Linguistics FR Langue nationale SP Lengua nacional Languages RT Dialects RT Language policy RT Mother tongue RT Vernacular languages
National libraries
MT 5.25 Documentary information systems FR Bibliothèque nationale SP Biblioteca nacional SN A 'library' which is responsible for acquiring and conserving copies of all significant publications published in the country and may function as a 'legal deposit library'.

46. Mayor's Office
How drought Compares with Other natural disasters. Unlike other natural disasters,drought tends to drive people apart rather than bring them together.
http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/OEM/disaster.html
Emergency Management Division
Mayor's Office
Emergency Management Division
Other Weather Information
First published: November 15, 1995
How Drought Compares with Other Natural Disasters
It's hard to tell when a dry spell becomes a drought. Instead, drought is a slow-onset natural disaster, an insidious, creeping phenomenon, hard to recognize with certainty until streambeds are dry and crops have withered. Droughts don't have epicenters or paths; they spread and shift through time and space. Drought doesn't topple buildings and buckle highways, but it destroys crops, setting off an economic ripple effect and imperiling regional food supplies within some developing countries.
It's Slow
Most natural hazards are "rapid onset," meaning they happen quickly, with little or no warning. Drought is the primary exception; it is a slow-onset, creeping disaster that takes months to establish itself and may persist for seasons, years, or even decades. Figuring out when a drought starts and stops requires careful monitoring of meteorological and hydrological variables such as precipitation and stream flow. (Please don't skip definitions of drought .) Effects are cumulative, growing in magnitude with each additional day of drought. Impacts may linger for years after normal rainfall resumes.

47. ENC: Curriculum Resources: Natural Disasters (ENC-004745, Full Record)
NSTA Recommends natural disasters earth science readings. Additional informationon great fires Activities for students Fires vocabulary drought The American
http://www.enc.org/resources/records/full/0,1240,004745,00.shtm
Skip Navigation You Are Here ENC Home Curriculum Resources Advanced
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... Ask ENC Explore online lesson plans, student activities, and teacher learning tools. Search Browse About Curriculum Resources Read articles about inquiry, equity, and other key topics for educators and parents. Create your learning plan, read the standards, and find tips for getting grants.
Natural disasters: Earth science readings
ENC#: ENC-004745
Publisher: J. Weston Walch Publisher
Date:
Ordering Information
Grades:
Abstract:

This book for earth science students uses dramatic descriptions of natural disasters to introduce eight units covering fires, floods, volcanoes, earthquakes, blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, and droughts. Each unit begins with an account of a famous disaster, followed by short, easy readings that provide information about the causes of such disasters and ways to predict, control, and prepare for them. Natural disasters described in the book include the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, hurricane Camille, the strongest ever to strike the United States, and the Good Friday Earthquake that occurred in 1964 in Anchorage, Alaska. The readings are followed by review sheets of factual recall, comprehension, and application questions. Also included are teacher sections with vocabulary lists, answer keys, and additional information pertaining to student readings. A glossary is provided at the end of each unit. (Author/CCM) Reviews and Awards:
  • Owens, Kathie . (2001). NSTA Recommends:

48. BBC - Hot Topics - Natural Disasters - Tidal Waves And Tsunamis
The basic cause of all drought is insufficient rainfall. Do you feel at risk fromnatural disasters? YES, NO, Do you know all about natural disasters? go,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/naturaldisasters/tidalwaves.shtml

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Science Beasts ... Help Like this page? Send it to a friend! HOT TOPICS Published March : 28 : 2002 Page Natural Disasters Contents Key points Earthquakes Volcanoes Could natural disasters devastate Britain Quiz : what do you know about disasters? Vote : do you feel at risk? Timeline of events Tidal Waves - Tsunamis Big waves Following the World's biggest earthquake off the coast of Chile in 1960, a series of waves created havoc around the Pacific Rim. It caused 56 deaths in Hawaii, 32 deaths in the Philippines, and 138 deaths in Japan - 10,000 miles away. Tsunamis A tsunami (pronounced soo-nam-ee) is a chain of fast moving waves caused by sudden trauma in the ocean. They can be generated by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or even the impact of meteorites. Tsunamis are what we used to call 'tidal waves'. They are most common around the edge of the Pacific, where more than half of the World's volcanoes are found. These seismic surges can assault coastlines, often with little or no warning. Rocks weighing as much as 20 metric tons have been plucked from sea walls and carried 180m inland. Wave goodbye Tsunamis aren't like wind-generated waves that rhythmically roll onto a beach. A tsunami can have a wavelength (ie distance between wave crests) in excess of 100km and there may be an hour between them. They travel at great speeds across an ocean with hardly any energy losses and are barely noticeable out at sea.

49. BBC - Hot Topics - Natural Disasters - Tidal Waves And Tsunamis
Thousands die 1876–79 The deadliest drought ever hits China
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/naturaldisasters/tidalwaves.shtml?tl5

50. Planet Ark : Central America Drought Worsens Hunger, UN Says
ROME Frequent drought and natural disasters in Central America are causing cropfailures and food shortages affecting more than eight million people, the
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/17958/story.htm
Subscribe to daily environment news
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A Current Affair
-"Gunns" story Select a topic from this pull-down menu Read the latest Reuters World Environment News Look at the latest Reuters Environment News Pictures Receive free daily news headlines via email Search the Planet Ark News Archive Find out about National Tree Day Visit the Planet Ark Media Centre Download our free environmental software Who are Planet Ark? Find out how YOU can help the planet Find out about the local recycling services available in your area
Central America drought worsens hunger, UN says Mail this story to a friend Printer friendly version ITALY: September 30, 2002
ROME - Frequent drought and natural disasters in Central America are causing crop failures and food shortages affecting more than eight million people, the United Nations food aid agency said.
"These recurring droughts - and other natural disasters - leave poor families with no crops to feed themselves," Zoraida Mesa, regional director of the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP), the world's largest food aid agency, said in a statement. "After years of natural disasters in Central America, many of these families have nothing left to sell, nothing left to cultivate, and nothing left to eat. Many are going hungry."

51. Natural Disasters - CSREES Farm Crisis Site
Joint Agricultural Weather Facility. USDA Current Impacts shortcutsto drought and other weather impacts. Coping With natural disasters.
http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/whatnew/natdis.htm
(Ag Markets)
(Human Behavior)

Natural Disasters
This page links you to other sites and pages that deal with the various aspects of natural disasters. This information will help you
  • understand, prepare for, cope with, and recover from
events caused by Nature's fury and caprice. Such events, although confined to a community, state, or region, can begin a chain of crises that affect national and global economies and cause untold physical and emotional damage. The information provided by these links will increase our ability to look at "the whole picture" of farm crisis.
Understanding Natural Disasters
  • EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS
    • NOAA Resource Listing for Weather and Climate Instruction - This document is intended to assist those who teach weather and climate at any level from pre-school through introductory college level courses, by listing some of the available instructional resources. (Note: Any of these materials may also inform and educate our Farm Crisis site visitors!)

52. Drought.ColoState.edu
Farm, Ranch and Small Acreage When it comes to natural disasters, drought maybe the most difficult to predict and to react to, due to its gradual onset.
http://drought.colostate.edu/
Drought Home Resources for Reporters and Media Water Conservation: Landscapes Households Business Fire ... Directories
April Update
As a world-leader in natural resources, climate studies and agriculture, Colorado State University is at the forefront of research related to the impacts of drought and fire on people and the environment. Responding to state and national needs, the University has focused this wide-ranging expertise on increasing the drought knowledge base in order to provide critical information to government leaders, businesses and individuals as they plan for and manage drought events. Over 100 researchers from 25 university departments are currently participating in research that is analyzing the dynamics of drought, developing new methods and procedures for characterizing drought, and identifying improved techniques for assessing the impact of extreme drought. Additionally, our ongoing outreach and education efforts continue to provide much needed information to the public on topics ranging from water saving tips for home gardeners to fire protection and prevention information for residents of our mountain communities.
Recent News Releases
  • Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens Announce Plant Select Choices for 2003 (

53. Rogue's Gallery
drought Flood) and Dr. David L. Adams, Professor of Forest Resources, Universityof Idaho, Moscow, Idaho (Fire). At left is a gallery of natural disasters
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/carbon/efroguesintro.html
Rogue's Gallery of Natural Disasters
"Droughts! Floods! Fires!" Headlines shout the news of one natural disaster after another as thousands of lives are lost, buildings and homes are destroyed, and Earth's surface is drastically altered. Experts claim that the number of natural disasters each year is on the rise. According to Reliefweb, a United Nations project, over 70 natural disasters occurred worldwide during 1997. How does that number compare to past years? How does that number compare to data for the current year? Photos: At left is a gallery of natural disasters that appear to be on the increase and are thought to be caused by a general rise in atmospheric temperature. As you look at the exhibits in the gallery, consider whether current data support the notion of
  • a real increase in disaster-causing events created by a pollution-driven rise in global temperature a real increase in disaster-causing events created by a rise in temperature related to a long-term, but undetermined natural climatic cycle an apparent increase of events because as the world's human population grows, more and more people choose or are forced to live in disaster-prone areas.

54. Rogue's Gallery
Rogue's Gallery of natural disasters drought In recent years the worldhas been plagued by severe droughts. During the summer months
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/carbon/efrogues.html
Rogue's Gallery of Natural Disasters: Drought
In recent years the world has been plagued by severe droughts. During the summer months of 1980, 1988, and 1991 drought conditions covered much of the Central and Eastern portions of the United States. Drought struck again in 1993 in the southeastern states. According to NOAA, the combined damage costs for these relatively short droughts were estimated in the tens of billions of dollars, along with an estimated death toll of approximately 15,000 to 20,000. In 1997 droughts caused disasters in eight countries. Below are two digital maps of the American Midwest depicting climatic conditions during the summer of 1991 (left: drought conditions) and 1993 (right: heavy rainfall). The effects of decreased precipitation on agriculture can be seen by comparing the two images. The 1993 map shows a more extensive vegetative cover than the 1991 map. Images: From an article by Bradley C. Reed of the EROS Data Center.
Click on the maps for a larger version.

55. ThinkQuest Library Of Entries
the effects can be devastating drought, crop failures and starvation can lead tohuman suffering on a massive scale. (natural disasters, Readers Digest, 1996).
http://library.thinkquest.org/10136/drought/droutq.htm
Welcome to the ThinkQuest Internet Challenge of Entries
The web site you have requested, Natural Disasters , is one of over 4000 student created entries in our Library. Before using our Library, please be sure that you have read and agreed to our To learn more about ThinkQuest. You can browse other ThinkQuest Library Entries To proceed to Natural Disasters click here Back to the Previous Page The Site you have Requested ...
Natural Disasters
click here to view this site
A ThinkQuest Internet Challenge 1997 Entry
Click image for the Site Languages : Site Desciption Nine different natural disasters are examined here: bush fires, cyclones, drought, earthquakes, famine, floods, tornadoes, tsunami, and volcanoes. Find out what they are, what causes them, where they occur, and read about recent or famous occurrences of each disaster. Then visit the personal account section to read what it's like to live through one of these events, or share your own survival story.
Students Stacey Nambour Christian College
Australia Lisa Nambour Christian College
Australia Cindy Coaches Colleen Nambour Christian College
Australia Colleen Nambour Christian College
Australia Colleen Nambour Christian College
Australia

56. WATER - TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE - THE FOREMOST CAUSE OF NATURAL DISASTERS
Siberia, Angola, Brazil, northeastern France, Peru, and with drought in Afghanistan theUnited Kingdom, the media spotlight is on these two natural disasters.
http://www.who.int/inf-fs/en/feature203.html
Feature N° 203
September 2001 WATER - TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE - THE FOREMOST CAUSE OF NATURAL DISASTERS
Almost two billion people – one-third of humanity –were affected by natural disasters in the last decade of the 20th century. Floods and droughts accounted for 86% of them. Quick-onset disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides may be more dramatic and take a very high toll in human lives. But floods and droughts – too much water or too little – often have longer lasting and more far-reaching effects on the health of their victims. "The most vulnerable victims are the poor and the marginalized, most of whom live in low-quality housing in flood-prone or drought-prone regions," says Jamie Bartram, Coordinator of the World Health Organization’s Water, Sanitation and Health Programme. "In periods of drought, their desperate search for water leads them to drink contaminated water and fail to exercise personal hygiene. And those fleeing floods often drink unclean water too. "If the drinking water supply and the sanitation systems are already inadequate, flooding poses a major health threat. Inundated industrial waste, such as used engine oil and refuse dumps add to health risks. People who have lost everything in the flood – their homes, their food, their livelihood – are all the more vulnerable to disease."

57. Natural Disasters In India
Taking Stock. natural disasters in India. Floods. Nearly 75 per cent ofthe total rainfall Bengal in the east. drought. The heavy concentration of
http://www.ncasindia.org/article2.htm
WHAT DOES OUR CONSTITUTION SAY ABOUT LAND REFORMS? 'Land' being a state subject, every state has its own Land Reforms laws. Land reforms are applicable only to the agricultural lands. However there are separate enactments to deal with urban land holdings. They also impose restrictions on holdings in urban areas and impose ceiling. The Acts exempt lands belonging to the central and state governments, local authorities, universities, educational institutions, trusts for a public purpose or of an educational nature and cooperative societies. For the purposes of the Act a family of five members is the unit. A family of five members shall hold no more than one standard unit of land. A standard unit varies from state to state. In case of Madras 30 acres is the standard holding. A family with more than five members shall be entitled to 5 additional acres per member. A joint hindu family is considered a single unit. The number of acres calculation differs according to the nature of the land, i.e wet or dry. Within a specified period of time, after the notification issued by the government, every person holding land is required to file a return with the authorized officer regarding the particulars of the land held by him. The authorized officer shall prepare a statement of the surplus land held by the person and notify the same. The concerned owners may raise their objections regarding the extent declared as surplus. The officer shall give them a reasonable opportunity and hear their objections. In case of any dispute, on a request, he shall refer the matter to the Land Tribunal. The questions of title are not gone into by the authorized officer, they are decided by the Land Tribunal on reference.

58. BBC NEWS | Talking Point | South Asian Debates | Natural Disasters: Are We At Th
natural disasters Are we at the mercy of the elements Southern Africa has sufferedwidespread drought while China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and parts of Europe
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/talking_point/debates/south_asian/2195745.stm
BBC NEWS News Front Page World UK England ... Talking Point Talking Point Contents: Forum Friday, 23 August, 2002, 11:51 GMT 12:51 UK
Natural disasters: Are we at the mercy of the elements?
Asia, Europe and Africa have all been hit by extreme weather conditions this year. Southern Africa has suffered widespread drought while China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and parts of Europe have seen serious flooding cause severe damage and deaths in many areas. At the Earth Summit in Johannesburg next week, environmentalists will call upon Western developed countries to clean up their act, arguing that much of the devastation has been caused by human impact on the planet. The intensity and increasing frequency of climate disasters are creating a demand for preventative measures to be brought about to protect people and places. But the poor countries which suffer most of the consequences can't afford these costly solutions. What can we realistically do to protect ourselves from the forces of nature? Is it time for a new approach to disaster management? And who should pay for the damage caused by natural disasters? This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

59. BBC NEWS | Talking Point | South Asian Debates | Natural Disasters: Are We At Th
Friday, 23 August, 2002, 1151 GMT 1251 UK natural disasters Are we Southern Africahas suffered widespread drought while China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/debates/south_asian/2195745.stm
CATEGORIES TV RADIO COMMUNICATE ... INDEX SEARCH
You are in: Talking Point: South Asian Debates News Front Page World ... Programmes SERVICES Daily E-mail News Ticker Mobile/PDAs Text Only ... Help EDITIONS Change to World Friday, 23 August, 2002, 11:51 GMT 12:51 UK Natural disasters: Are we at the mercy of the elements?
Asia, Europe and Africa have all been hit by extreme weather conditions this year.
Southern Africa has suffered widespread drought while China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and parts of Europe have seen serious flooding cause severe damage and deaths in many areas. At the Earth Summit in Johannesburg next week, environmentalists will call upon Western developed countries to clean up their act, arguing that much of the devastation has been caused by human impact on the planet. The intensity and increasing frequency of climate disasters are creating a demand for preventative measures to be brought about to protect people and places. But the poor countries which suffer most of the consequences can't afford these costly solutions. What can we realistically do to protect ourselves from the forces of nature? Is it time for a new approach to disaster management? And who should pay for the damage caused by natural disasters?

60. Box III: Natural Disasters
Select this link to order this issure of ATF . Box III natural disasters. Thetwo most important geophysical events are probably drought and floods.
http://web.mit.edu/africantech/www/articles/EnvChallBox3.htm
table of contents for this issue. Select this link to order this issure of ATF
Box III: Natural Disasters
In addition to human-induced degradation, geophysical events (such as droughts, floods, tornadoes, windstorms, and landslides) and biological events (such as locust and pest invasions) greatly affect the environment and the well-being of people in sub-Saharan Africa. The two most important geophysical events are probably drought and floods. Drought is defined as a period of two or more years during which rainfall is well below average. In ecological terms, it is simply a dry period to which an ecosystem may be adapted and from which it often recovers quickly. Drought should be distinguished from dryland degradation, which, as pointed out earlier, is brought about by inappropriate land-use practices under delicate environmental conditions. Unlike dryland degradation, however, drought inflicts acute distress on human beings and animals, forcing mass migrations from the affected areas. Given the region's poverty and its inability to invest in new techniques, plant strains, storage facilities, and so on, the capacity to deal with drought is severely limited. As a result, many countries have become dependent on international assistance; this is especially true for small countries, but even large ones like Ethiopia (where a drought occurred in the midst of a prolonged civil war) have needed significant help. However, once normal rainfall resumes, recovery takes place quickly and people tend to return to their native areas.

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