In 2024, Niger experienced catastrophic flooding that resulted in 396 fatalities and affected over 1.5 million people. The floods were intensified by climate change and severe drought conditions in the Sahel region. As a result of the damage, schools were repurposed as shelters, leading to a delayed academic year. The disaster significantly impacted infrastructure, destroying homes and livestock across the country.
In Niger, the devastating floods of 2024 resulted in the loss of nearly 400 lives and impacted over 1.5 million individuals, as indicated by a final report released by the government. According to Interior Minister Mohamed Toumba, the floods specifically caused 396 fatalities and left 405 individuals injured, with approximately 200,000 households, which equals 1,526,653 individuals, affected.
The flooding was exacerbated by climate change, primarily driven by human-induced emissions of fossil fuels, making extreme weather events, such as heavy rains and droughts, more likely and severe. The harsh droughts in the Sahel region of Africa complicate the situation, as hard, dry soil fails to absorb new rainfall effectively. The unusually severe rainy season of the previous year, which spanned from June to September, reached even the arid northern regions bordering the Sahara.
Regions particularly affected included Dosso, Maradi, Zinder, and Tahoua, with areas experiencing rainfall levels up to 200 percent higher than in previous years, according to the national meteorological office. Notably, in Zinder, the rains resulted in the collapse of a historic 19th-century mud-brick mosque, a prominent tourist site in Niger. The capital city, Niamey, also faced significant disruptions, with extensive damage to roads temporarily isolating it from the rest of the country.
The repercussions of the floods included widespread damage to schools, many of which served as emergency shelters for displaced families. This prompted the military government to postpone the commencement of the school year, which was initially scheduled for early September, to October 28. In total, the flooding destroyed more than 158,000 homes and led to the loss of 31,000 livestock, showcasing the extensive impact of the disaster.
The floods in Niger during 2024 had a profound impact, resulting in substantial loss of life and displacement. Driven by the increasing severity of weather patterns attributed to climate change, the situation highlights the urgent need for mitigation strategies. The aftermath of the disaster underscores significant infrastructural and societal challenges faced by affected communities as they begin to recover.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
