Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Daily Monitor) – Climate change-induced livestock diseases are causing more illness and death of livestock in southern lowlands of the country, a study conducted to assess the local level of impacts of climate change said.

The study entitled: Climate Change-Induced Hazards, Impacts and Responses in Southern Ethiopia, carried out in the southern lowlands of Ethiopia’s three selected zones- Borena, Guji and Omo Zones- in the Oromia SNNP regions said climatic change impacts on livelihoods particularly increased vulnerability to poverty and food insecurity as livestock possession of households during the past 20 years shows an overall decline.

In Borena zone, for instance, the average number of livestock per household declined from 10 oxen, 35 cows and 33 goats to 3 oxen, 7 cows and 6 goats, the study said.

The study also showed similar outcome in South Omo pastoralists as “the number of livestock decreased from 30 cows, 38 goats and 36 sheep to 21 cows, 23 goats and 21 sheep at present.” “Tick and skin diseases on camels, cattle, goats and sheep as increasingly becoming common problems during severe droughts, the study found out, adding even camels and goats, considered more resistant to drought, are affected by the newly prevailing diseases,” the study pointed out.

The collaborative study undertaken by FSS (Forum for Social Studies) and Cordaid, indicated the declining in livestock productivity and reproduction is becoming the most serious risk households are facing today, exacerbated by shortage of health facilities and services and poor infrastructure.

The collaborative study undertaken by FSS (Forum for Social Studies) and Cordaid, indicated the declining in livestock productivity and reproduction is becoming the most serious risk households are facing today, exacerbated by shortage of health facilities and services and poor infrastructure.

The senior researcher Dr Aklilu Amsalu said over the past years, the incidence and distribution of diseases and pests has changed in the study area.

“Existing diseases known in the area are expanding and new types are emerging of which some types are not yet identified,” he said, adding unidentified new diseases were also causing sudden death of camels and goats.

Loss of livestock assets has led to increased poverty and dependency on external food aid and non-food assistance, the study found out, adding dry seasons triggered conflicts among the inhabitants, due to recurrent droughts and resource scarcity, in the area are not new phenomena.

Survey results indicate that more than 44% of the households in South Omo and about one-fourth in Borena and Guji have suffered from conflict related raiding in the last five years (2004-2008).