A drought in Central Asia that began around April 2021 affected most of Central Asia and parts of Russia, causing mass livestock deaths, most notably of horses, and water shortages for irrigation. Food prices in the areas have been reported to increase following the drought. The shortages and drought have been linked to climate change.
Why this event still matters
Historical incidents shape the rules that protect people today — building codes, evacuation policy, warning systems and inspection regimes almost always trace back to a specific disaster. Studying 2021 Central Asia drought alongside current events is how preparedness improves.
See what is happening right now on the live world incident map, browse every droughts we track on the Drought tracker.