Drought

Heavy rain douses Australia's east coast bushfires

There are still 33 fires burning in Australia's New South Wales state, but they are all at the lowest warning level of "advice" and mostly in southeastern areas where the rains are headed.

Record 45 million need urgent food aid in southern Africa - UN

Low growth, rising population, drought and floods have contributed to worsening food insecurity in the region.

Rain to bring relief, risks to fire-stricken Australia

Forecasts of rain expected to bring some respite but risk of landslides and water pollution grows, officials say. Meanwhile, a top climatologist says Australia could become so dry that its residents could become "climate refugees."

Australia offers drought ravaged farmers up to $688 million in cheap loans

There will be no interest payable over the first two years of the loan, the government said. Farmers across Australia's east coast have been battling drought conditions for more than three years.

The parched lands of Gujarat bring climate change into stark view in India

One of India's most unique and fragile ecological systems is buckling under the pressure of climate change forcing people to abandon centuries-old traditions.

Drought-hit Australian towns prepare for 'unimaginable' water crisis

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says the drought is being driven, in part, by warmer sea-surface temperatures impacting rainfall patterns. Air temperatures have also warmed over the past century, increasing the ferocity of droughts and fires.

More than 113 million people suffer 'acute hunger' globally, UN says

Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Syria among the eight nations accounting for two-thirds of the total number of people worldwide exposed to the risk of famine, report says.

Nearly one million drought-hit Kenyans at risk of starvation

While hunger-related deaths and health complications are on the rise, the government is unable to avert the crisis and aid organisations are asking for help.

2018 was Earth's 'fourth hottest year' on record

Twenty warmest years "all in the last 22," scientists say in a UN report, with weather extremes in 2018 including wildfires in California and Greece, drought in South Africa and floods in Kerala, India.

Thousands of fish die in third mass death in Australian river

Local officials blame the mass deaths on drought but critics say the issue at least partly stems from water mismanagement.

Australia ramps up aid to farmers as drought bites

Farmers in Australia's eastern states are struggling with extreme aridity that has turned green pastures into dust, with the economies of local towns also suffering.

Europe swelters in record heatwave

Heatstroke kills three people in Spain as the most severe heatwave grips the continent with temperatures touching a scorching 45 degrees Celsius in some areas.