File:Horn of Africa (MODIS 2021-12-31).jpg

English: On the eastern coast of the continent of Africa and just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, an arid peninsula juts into the Indian Ocean, separating those waters from the Gulf of Aden (northeast) and the Red Sea (along the northwestern coast of the peninsula). This massive projection carries the name of the Horn of Africa, most likely because it appears much like the broad horn carried by the Black Rhinoceros—a critically endangered species that once freely roamed these lands. After a 96 percent drop in population between 1970 and 1995, vigorous conservation efforts have seen the number of rhinos begin to bounce back a bit and some have been reintroduced to native lands, including parts of the horn of Africa. The Horn of Africa covers about 2,000,000 square kilometers (772,204 square miles), most of which is arid desert. The landscape also contains lakes, rivers, forests, mountains, and many untapped natural resources. The countries sitting in the Horn of Africa include Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Somalia sits at the furthermost tip of the horn, enjoying a long coastline but very dry climate.

The Eastern Horn of Africa has suffered drought, sometimes followed by flood, for much of history. A warming climate worldwide has brought a trend of increasing warmth and drought to the region. According to a report of the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) published on ReliefWeb on December 2, 2021, an exceptional three-season drought has struck the Eastern Horn of Africa. Poor rains in October-December 2020 and in March-May 2021 have been followed by an extremely dry October-December season. Kenya and Somalia have declared drought emergencies as rainfall totals and vegetation imagery suggest lowest-on-record values in many areas. The report also states that the land surface is also much hotter than normal. The long-term drought has resulted in poor harvest and unhealthy conditions of livestock, which is severely affecting food and income. Some rainfall has fallen in parts of the Horn of Africa in the last week, but not enough to alleviate drought. Humanitarian aide is being funneled to the region, but the report states that increased aide is urgently needed.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a beautiful true-color image of the Horn of Africa on December 28, 2021. Widespread tans, ochre, and browns that pain the entire landscape are evidence of bone-dry conditions. A few areas, particularly along the northern coast on the Gulf of Aden and the southeastern coast along the Indian Ocean, show washes of green, indicating vegetation of grasses or forests. Wispy clouds hang over the Indian Ocean and a few hover over northern highlands, but none are rain-containing clouds that would bring relief to the sweltering region.