Climate change is exacerbating flooding in Africa, with central Nigeria’s Lokoja facing severe inundations that threaten residents like Idris Egbunu and Fatima Bilyaminu. This year’s torrential rains have already affected 6.9 million people in West and Central Africa, showcasing the urgent need for global action against climate change amid trends of increasing flood frequency and severity.
In central Nigeria, 67-year-old Idris Egbunu has battled relentless flooding for over a decade, as annual rains lead to the Niger River overflowing its banks, inundating his home. Each rainy season necessitates extensive clean-up and repairs, only to face the same disaster a year later. This cycle is characteristic of Lokoja, located where the Niger River meets the Benue River. The situation has worsened due to climate change, which has severely disrupted weather patterns across Africa, resulting in a dramatic increase in flood severity this year. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), approximately 6.9 million individuals in West and Central Africa have suffered from torrential rains and accompanying floods in 2024. Residents and officials in Kogi state emphasize that since 2012, flooding has consistently intensified, with the disastrous floods of 2022 causing over 500 fatalities and displacing 1.4 million people. While Sandra Musa, an adviser to the Kogi state governor, indicates that the current floods have not yet reached the catastrophic levels of last year, she warns that the situation remains dire, with water levels rising contrary to seasonal norms. Among the displaced is Fatima Bilyaminu, a 31-year-old mother who can only reach her home by boat due to the floodwaters claiming her neighborhood. Tragically, she has lost essential belongings in the flood that has turned her life upside down. The broader impact of climate change on Africa is highlighted in a recent report by the World Meteorological Organisation, indicating that despite accounting for only four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa faces some of the most severe consequences of climatic shifts, including devastating rainfall patterns. Notably, this year is on track to become the hottest on record, leading to increased rainfall across regions like the Sahel, where rainfall patterns have become unprecedented. Multiple countries are grappling with the detrimental effects of flooding, such as Chad, where storms have killed hundreds and displaced millions, and Cameroon, where thousands of homes and crops have been destroyed. This troubling narrative illustrates a shift from a decadal to an annual disaster cycle, which experts assert will continue to worsen without substantial efforts to mitigate global fossil fuel consumption. The urgent message from experts like Clair Barnes and Aida Diongue-Niang serves as a call to arms for humanity to recognize the critical relationship between climate change, urban development, and the future viability of African nations. In summary, the escalating challenges posed by climate-induced flooding in Africa are undeniable, threatening the livelihoods and safety of millions while underscoring the need for immediate and collective global action against climate change.
The African continent is experiencing increasingly severe weather patterns exacerbated by climate change, leading to widespread flooding that threatens food security and the survival of millions of residents. The Kogi state in Nigeria, particularly the Lokoja region, serves as a focal point for these challenges due to its geographic situation at the confluence of two major rivers. The rise in flood severity is attributed to global climate change, which disrupts traditional rainfall patterns and contributes to more extreme weather events, adversely affecting agriculture, housing, and overall community stability across the continent. Reports indicate that the frequency and intensity of flooding have increased markedly over the past decade, a trend that is likely to continue unless significant measures are undertaken to address the underlying causes of climate change.
The situation regarding climate change-induced flooding in Africa represents an urgent humanitarian crisis necessitating immediate global attention. As traditional flood cycles transition into yearly occurrences, millions are now burdened with loss, dislocation, and uncertainty. Without a concerted effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement sustainable urban planning, the continent’s challenges will only magnify, potentially affecting up to 118 million impoverished individuals by 2030. Therefore, the international community must unite in addressing these pressing issues to safeguard the future of Africa’s vulnerable populations.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
