Highlights:

• Severe dryness prevailed in March 2019 and in the first half of April in large parts of Eastern Africa, as the Tropical Cyclone “Idai” redirected precipitations away from the subregion.
• Weather forecasts previously pointed to average to above-average March-May rains, but subsequent updates predicted dry conditions in April and a mixed performance of rains in May depending on the locality.
• The current dry weather conditions are severely affecting pastoral areas, compounding the impact of the poor 2018 October-December rains and raising major food security concerns.
• The severe dry conditions impacted planting and germination of crops in several areas, and crop production is expected at well below-average levels.
• Major areas of concern are northern and eastern Kenya, Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia, Uganda and northeastern United Republic of Tanzania.
• Recurrent climatic shocks have undermined household resilience. Urgent support to agricultural livelihoods is critically needed.