The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) has flagged an ongoing drought affecting Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia at an Orange notification level.
Key facts
- A drought is ongoing across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
- The drought has been assigned an Orange notification level.
- The alert was published via the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS).
- The notification was dated 3 July 2026.
An ongoing drought affecting Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia has been given an Orange notification level, according to a report published by the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS).
The GDACS notification, dated 3 July 2026, identifies the event as a drought and places it at the Orange level on the system’s alert scale. The three countries named in the report — Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia — are located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa.
GDACS is a framework that issues alerts and coordination information for sudden-onset and ongoing natural disasters. Its notification levels are used to signal the relative severity of an event and to help guide the attention of governments, humanitarian organisations and responders.
Beyond the notification level and the countries affected, the source report did not provide additional detail on the scale of the drought, the number of people impacted, or the specific areas within each country experiencing the most severe conditions.
No information was provided in the source regarding response measures, funding, or how long the drought is expected to continue. Readers seeking further specifics should consult official GDACS updates and national authorities in the affected countries.
Why it matters
Droughts in the Horn of Africa can threaten food and water security for large populations and place strain on agriculture and livestock. An official alert level helps direct the attention of responders and highlights where humanitarian needs may grow.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries are affected by the drought?
According to the GDACS report, the ongoing drought affects Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
What does an Orange notification level mean?
The GDACS report assigns the drought an Orange notification level, one of the alert levels the system uses to signal the relative severity of an event. The source did not provide further detail on the criteria.
When was the alert published?
The GDACS notification for this drought was dated 3 July 2026.