ABSTRACT

Studies have shown that drought is one of the major natural hazards that threatens people’s livelihood and socioeconomic development in different parts of the world. It has also been established by scholars that drought is a slow-onset hazard, which allows time to consider and address its complex root causes, such as understanding people’s vulnerabilities and identifying unsafe conditions related to poverty, fragile local economy, livelihoods at risk, lack of strategies and plans, and limited institutional capacities and resources. In this chapter, particular attention is paid to the impacts of drought in different parts of the world zeroing in on the three main types of impacts with some case studies as backup in order to understand the problems and challenges that need to be minimized. Understanding these problems and challenges allows stakeholders, government authorities, and the public to undertake effective drought mitigation and preparedness measures.