OCHA Guinea: Inter-agency mission to Gaoual and Koundara

A recent inter-agency mission to drought-affected areas in Upper Guinea concluded that due to a constant decrease of rainfall over the last 4 years in Gaoual (minus 52%) and Koundara (minus 61%) and the related reduction of the rainy season from 180 to 85 days per year respectively, the two districts have been experiencing some serious deterioration of their environment (overgrazzing of pastures, decreasing water tables, dried water points, deforestation, ...) and a drastic reduction in food production.
FAO and WFP agree that the situation in these two Prefectures must be closely monitored in coming weeks as the situation may warrant emergency food assistance. Solutions recommended by the mission span from improving water supply and distributing tools, seeds and other agriculture inputs to help the local population cope with this prolonged drought.

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