Human Rights watch (HRW) has said that a huge newly-built Ethiopian dam is cutting off the supply of water to Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, threatening the livelihoods of some 500,000 people in both countries.

According to Ceoafrica, the Gibe III dam, along with a network of sugar plantations, has caused the depth of Lake Turkana to drop by 1.5m (4.9ft) from its previous levels since the dam's reservoir began filling in 2015, according to the HRW.

This could seriously affect food supplies in the Omo Valley and Lake Turkana, which provide the livelihoods for half a million people in both Kenya and Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government’s moves to develop its resources should not endanger the survival of indigenous people living downstream.”

It has affected Fishermen on the lake to the extent that they no longer haul in, as much as they used to, one said the decrease was significant adding that "I used to go fishing twice a day, now I go once a day". 

The dam which is built at a cost of $1.6bn (£1.28bn), is expected to double the electricity output of Ethiopia.

HRW said the government's move to "develop its resources should not endanger the survival of indigenous people living downstream".

"The predicted drop in the lake levels will seriously affect food supplies in the Omo Valley and Lake Turkana, which provide the livelihoods for half a million people in both Kenya and Ethiopia", HRW added.