Severe flooding, exacerbated by climate change, has impacted millions across Africa, particularly in Nigeria’s Kogi State. The Niger River’s annual overflow poses persistent challenges, causing significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and food security. Experts warn of worsening conditions linked to climate change and emphasize the need for global action to reduce emissions as flooding becomes an annual crisis rather than a decadal occurrence.
Climate change has exacerbated flooding across Africa, causing severe devastation, particularly in Nigeria. For over a decade, Idris Egbunu, a 67-year-old resident of Lokoja, has been inundated by floodwaters each rainy season as the Niger River breaches its banks. The annual flooding cycle has wreaked havoc not only on Egbunu’s home but also on countless others in Kogi State, where the river meets its main tributary, the Benue. This year, torrential rains have raised alarm, as approximately 6.9 million people in West and Central Africa have been affected, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Kogi State has witnessed intensified flooding since 2012, with 2022 recording the worst floods in a decade, claiming over 500 lives and displacing 1.4 million individuals. Sandra Musa, an adviser to Kogi’s emergency agency, noted that this year’s flooding conditions are dire, albeit not yet matching last year’s severity. Nonetheless, she reported that water levels continue to rise contrary to seasonal patterns and have already impacted around two million residents. Community members like Fatima Bilyaminu recount their losses, having been forced to traverse flooded streets and reconstruct their belongings after each inundation. With limited financial resources, many, including Bilyaminu, continue to endure the impacts without relocating. Climate change is largely responsible for this crisis, even though Africa accounts for only 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reports indicate that 2024 could become the hottest year on record, marked by unprecedented rainfall and extreme weather events, according to experts from the United Nations and various meteorological agencies. Across the continent, regions have reported alarming increases in rainfall; for instance, Niger experienced up to 200% more rain than in previous years. The resulting floods have devastated homes, agricultural land, and essential infrastructures, further threatening the already precarious food security in the region. The ongoing situation has prompted reflections on urban planning, with calls for improved understanding of the link between urban development and climate change as populations continue to struggle against the elements. Researchers note that the recurrence of flooding, once expected every decade, has now transitioned to an annual crisis, which will likely worsen if fossil fuel consumption continues unabated. As the situation grows increasingly dire, calls for global accountability in reducing emissions have intensified, emphasizing that the responsibility for combating climate change lies with all of humanity. Aida Diongue-Niang from the IPCC remarked, “That does not fall to the region — it falls to the whole of humanity.”
The topic of climate change-induced flooding in Africa highlights the urgent humanitarian crisis facing millions as extreme weather events become increasingly frequent and severe. Central Nigeria’s Lokoja serves as a poignant example of the cumulative impact of climate change on local communities, where the annual rainy season has morphed from a seasonal occurrence into a significant threat to livelihoods and safety. The role of climate change in disrupting established weather patterns and inciting extreme weather events underscores a global challenge, particularly affecting regions with limited resources and infrastructure to adapt or recover. This year, the situation is exacerbated by record-setting rainfall and the compounding effects of a warming climate that disproportionately affects African nations.
In conclusion, the ongoing floods in Africa, particularly evident in Nigeria, underscore the escalating impact of climate change on local communities. As highlighted by reports from humanitarian organizations and climatological data, millions remain vulnerable to the growing threats posed by severe weather events. The urgent need for global cooperation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential for mitigating future risks, while immediate local and regional strategies must be implemented to support affected populations. The recurrent flooding exemplifies a critical intersection between environmental conditions and human resilience, calling for an enhanced focus on sustainable practices and infrastructural resilience to safeguard against the escalating climate crisis.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
