Severe flooding caused by heavy rains since June has devastated Niger, claiming 53 lives and affecting more than 18,000 people, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Wednesday.
The floods, exacerbated by the effects of global climate change, have destroyed 1,636 homes and 29 classrooms, and killed 10,930 livestock, according to OCHA, citing the Niger Ministry of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management. The disaster has impacted 2,501 households across nearly every region of the West African nation, with the south-central region of Maradi being particularly hard-hit.
“Exacerbated by global climate change, flooding is a recurring threat in Niger,” the UN agency stated. The capital city Niamey, home to two million residents and often prone to deadly floods, has so far been spared.
To mitigate the impact on affected communities, authorities have been proactive, sending text messages urging residents to stay sheltered, secure their livestock, and utilize a toll-free emergency number for assistance.
OCHA warns that more than 247,000 people could be affected by the floods before the end of the rainy season, which typically concludes in late September. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Red Cross are coordinating efforts to support the Nigerien government by mobilizing food stocks, emergency shelters, and hygiene kits in the most severely impacted areas.
The rainy season in Niger, spanning from June to September, often results in fatalities, even in the country’s typically dry desert regions. Last year, floods were particularly deadly, causing 195 deaths and affecting 400,000 people.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
