Catastrophic Flooding Impacts Millions Across Africa
Heavy downpours and overwhelming floods have resulted in substantial damage in vast areas of Western and Central Africa, as well as in Sudan and South Sudan. Over 500 lives have been claimed across the continent, as per UN reports.
In Chad, over a million individuals have been impacted by the floods; 600,000 in Nigeria and 300,000 in Niger are among them. Cameroon, Mali, and certain regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo are presently battling with the aftermath of the floods, including submerged roads, wrecked homes, and destroyed fields. The number of flood victims this year is triple that of the previous rainy season, according to reports.
Hassane Hamadou, Regional Director for Central and West Africa of the Norwegian Refugee Council, stated, "The situation in the Sahel region and the Lake Chad area is deteriorating, as the escalated effects of conflicts, displacement, and climate change are placing an excessive burden on vulnerable populations."
Similar problems are currently facing Sudan, which has been embroiled in a violent power struggle between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo since April 2023. As a result, more than ten million individuals have been displaced, and a potential famine is on the horizon. Now, nearly half a million people are also impacted by the floods, with a cholera outbreak ensuing. South Sudan, one of the poorest nations in the world, has seen over 735,000 individuals impacted by the floods, with at least 65,000 left homeless, according to UN reports.
The damage in Chad due to the floods has displaced over 1 million people, adding to their financial woes in millions. The estimated cost of rebuilding in Sudan, already affected by political instability, is expected to run into millions, further straining their resources.
