ADDIS ABABA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The impact of the drought in eastern and southern Ethiopia is deepening, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has warned.

       "The impact of the drought in eastern and southern Ethiopia is deepening and so are the suffering and loss of the affected pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in these areas," the UNOCHA said in its latest situation update issued late Monday.

       The UNOCHA said the prolonged drought due to three consecutive failed rainy seasons since late 2020 has adversely affected 81 million people in Ethiopia's Oromia, Somali, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) and Southwest regions.

       Noting that the number of livestock dying from lack of pasture and water is staggering, the UNOCHA said that more than 1.46 million livestock deaths were estimated by the affected regional governments, up from more than 170,000 deaths that were reported in the regions in January.

       "This is a key indicator of how alarming the situation has become," the UNOCHA said.

       It said surviving animals have a significantly deteriorated body condition, which has decreased their market value and has led to a correlated decrease in the purchasing power of households, who are becoming increasingly vulnerable with further limited coping strategies.

       Food and nutritional insecurity have further soared because livestock remains the main source of nutrition and income for these communities.

       Figures from UNOCHA showed that at least 286,000 people who have the means to travel -- 183,000 in Somali Region and 103,000 in Oromia Region -- have migrated in search of water, pasture or assistance, leaving behind their elderly and the sick, which is exposing them to higher vulnerabilities and protection risks.

       "The situation is not expected to improve rapidly and will require a continuous engagement over the months to come, with a likelihood of a fourth consecutive poor rainy season," it said.