The summer of 2024 was the hottest ever recorded on Earth. It resulted in heatwaves, droughts and devastating flooding, especially in West African nations.
Firstly, weeks of heavy rains in Chad led to the death of 341 people, and affected over 1.5 million since July. The stats are according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA in early September said that flooding hit all of the country’s 23 provinces, where over 164,000 houses were destroyed. Meanwhile, 66,700 cattle were lost, with 259,000 hectares (640,000 acres) of fields ruined.
In Niger, floods since June have killed 273 and affected more than 700,000. According to the UNHCR, others include 50,000 home’s destruction, and the disruption of education for over 39,000 children. The disruption has particularly hit refugees, hailing in the southern regions.
Meanwhile, 29 of 36 Nigerian states have seen rising waters in the River Niger and its major Benue tributary. The UNHCR reports that the climate change phenomenon has affected more than 600,000 people. Moreover, at least 200 people have been killed and more than 225,000 displaced.
Nigeria has also seen significant agricultural damage, with over 115,265 hectares of farmland ruined. Child hunger surged by 25% compared to last year, 2023, as one in six children faced hunger between June and August.
In South Sudan, one of the world’s poorest nations, floods have affected over 710,000 people across 30 counties, causing widespread damage to homes, crops, and infrastructure. This is the same case in neighboring Sudan, a country already grappling with conflict, which saw more than 490,000 people impacted by floods.
The ongoing war has forced millions into flood-prone areas. By August 26, at least 132 people had died, and thousands of children were at risk of a cholera outbreak due to stagnant floodwaters.
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