Kobebe Dam Runs Dry as IFRC Details El Niño Drought Response in Karamoja

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says a critical water reservoir in north-eastern Uganda has dried up entirely this year, as prolonged drought reshapes daily life across the Karamoja region and Red Cross teams scale up cash and water assistance.

In an article published on 19 October 2026, the IFRC reports that Kobebe Dam in Moroto district — described by the federation as normally a critical source of water for communities and their livestock — has dried up. Across Karamoja more broadly, the IFRC says water sources have either disappeared or fallen to very low levels, families are travelling further to find water, and pasture continues to deteriorate, placing pressure on livelihoods built on livestock and crop production.

Movement toward the water that remains

The federation reports that more than 645 households displaced from Kotido District have moved closer to Nakidongo, in Moroto district, in search of water. Pastoralists from Loima in Kenya's Turkana County have also crossed into the area with their animals, seeking water and pasture, according to the IFRC. As more people and livestock draw on a shrinking resource base, the federation says pressure on already vulnerable communities keeps building.

The Uganda Red Cross Society is providing multipurpose cash assistance to more than 5,000 people affected by the drought in Karamoja, the IFRC states, alongside water for livestock — including goats, sheep, cattle and camels — to support pastoralist households. The federation says the assistance addresses critical water shortages and helps protect livestock and livelihoods during the ongoing drought.

Significant gaps remain, in the IFRC's assessment. It says communities need sustained support for water access, livestock, food security and the protection of livelihoods, and that the situation extends beyond Moroto: Kaabong, Karenga, Napak and Kotido are described as facing similar problems of water scarcity, depleted pasture and growing food insecurity.

The federation ties its account to the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, marked on 13 October under the theme "Resilience Starts at Home," arguing that Karamoja shows resilience is a practical question of whether families can reach water, protect livelihoods, understand warnings and get support before a crisis deepens.

Different risks under one climate pattern

The IFRC frames El Niño as a naturally occurring climate phenomenon whose effects vary by location, season, existing vulnerability and preparedness. Across parts of the Greater Horn of Africa, the federation says forecasts point to an increased likelihood of heavy rainfall and flooding during the October–December 2026 rainy season, while rainfall deficits have already affected parts of Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda's Karamoja region.

Further south, the IFRC says the coming season brings an increased risk of below-average rainfall, prolonged dry spells and above-average temperatures. Parts of the Sahel are also experiencing rainfall deficits, according to the federation.

The IFRC notes that consequences may take months to surface, as harvests, livestock and household incomes come under pressure and families struggle through subsequent lean seasons — a lag also flagged in other agencies' outlooks for El Niño years.

Early action protocols activated

Across Africa, the IFRC says Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies are working to convert risk information into action before conditions escalate. In Southern Africa, the federation reports that Early Action Protocols for drought have been activated in Lesotho and Eswatini, with interventions including cash assistance, early warnings, community preparedness, water support and measures to protect livelihoods.

Where flooding is possible, the IFRC says preparedness work involves strengthening early warning systems, mobilising volunteers, checking emergency supplies, planning evacuations and readying teams for search and rescue.

The federation says its Africa Regional Office works with National Societies to strengthen coordination, identify readiness gaps and improve operational preparedness so that volunteers, supplies, logistics and early action mechanisms are in place as risks evolve. Early action cannot prevent floods or droughts and forecasts cannot remove all uncertainty, the IFRC writes, but acting on credible warnings can reduce avoidable losses and reach people before their options narrow.

The full article is available on the IFRC website.