NAIROBI, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Several countries in the Greater Horn of Africa are experiencing scorching temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, as an intense heatwave sweeps across the region, a climate center under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development said in a statement released Thursday.
According to the Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC), the worst-affected countries include South Sudan, Sudan, and Kenya, with Uganda and Somalia also experiencing extreme heat.
"Our analysis of daily maximum temperatures from Feb. 1 to 28 reveals that much of South Sudan, southeastern Sudan, and northern Kenya, have recorded temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius," said the ICPAC.
The agency warned that as climate change continues to drive global temperatures higher, extreme heatwaves are expected to become more frequent across the region.
With maximum temperatures hitting 40 degrees Celsius in parts of South Sudan and Kenya, the prolonged heat is disrupting daily life, affecting human health, livestock, and economic activities, it said, adding that the worsening impacts of heat stress include exacerbation of respiratory illnesses such as asthma, reduced livestock productivity, dehydration and exhaustion, and increased likelihood of wildfires.
The agency advised residents to stay hydrated, limit intense outdoor activities, and closely monitor livestock to mitigate the effects of the extreme heat.
