With the onset of the rainy season, severe flooding in Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger and Nigeria has significantly worsened the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in affected areas, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). UNHCR spokesman William Spindler on Friday reminded government authorities of the importance of including displaced people in national response plans.
“The floods have devastated communities, destroyed homes and infrastructure and heightened protection risks for the most vulnerable, severely affecting forcibly displaced populations who were already living in precarious conditions,” Spindler told journalists in Geneva on Friday.
“Many are now sheltering in overcrowded and makeshift locations with limited access to essential services. Considering the effects of climate change, worsening food insecurity, and the increased risk of waterborne diseases, it is vital to ensure that the needs of refugees and internally displaced people are not overlooked.”
All of Chad's 23 provinces and 115 of the country's 120 departments have been struck by flooding since July. According to Chadian authorities and aid agencies, nearly 1.5 million people were affected by the floods as of September 3, as the situation is evolving rapidly. The number of people affected has risen from 960,000 at the end of August to more than 1,495,000 in September.
The humanitarian impact of widespread flooding caused by rains and strong winds in the country is mounting. To date, 341 people have died, more than 251,000 hectares of land have been submerged, more than 70,000 homes have been destroyed and 29,000 head of livestock have perished.
Chad has been severely affected by the war in neighboring Sudan, with more than 636,000 Sudanese seeking refuge in the country. According to UNHCR, refugee communities in eastern Chad are particularly vulnerable, with more than 40,000 refugees affected.
In Nigeria, severe flooding has swept through 29 of 36 states, with more than 600,000 people affected. At least 200 people have died and more than 225,000 have been displaced, including many already uprooted by conflict and climate change. The destruction of more than 115,000 hectares of farmland could worsen food insecurity at a time when 32 million people in the country are already facing acute hunger.
In Cameroon, torrential rains in mid-August destroyed more than 8,600 homes, flooded thousands of hectares of farmland and crops, and caused the loss of thousands of animals. Nearly 19,000 households and some 159,000 people have been affected, including nearly 50,000 refugees. Local authorities and humanitarian agencies are putting emergency plans in place, but face major logistical challenges, including access difficulties and a growing risk of epidemics.
In Niger, severe flooding triggered by heavy rains has caused widespread destruction, particularly in the regions of Maradi, Dosso, Tillabery and Zinder, which are also home to significant numbers of displaced people. Since the rains began in July, more than 217 people have died and more than 700,000 have been affected.
The floods have destroyed infrastructure, including roads and farmland, and disrupted the education of more than 39,000 children. Access to areas where refugees are settled has been compromised, prompting the army to evaluate alternative routes for relief efforts.
"Displaced families, including refugees and IDPs, are facing a catastrophic situation due to the compounding effects of conflict, climate change, and now devastating floods. They need emergency shelter, food, water and medical care immediately," Spindler said.
In addition to those already displaced, mostly due to conflict, recent extreme weather conditions including heavy rains and flooding across the Sahel region have forced an estimated 1 million people from their homes in Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Nigeria and Niger.
The countries most seriously hit by the flooding are Chad, with 1.5 million people affected, then Nigeria with 600,000 and Niger with 700,000, followed by Mali (340,000) and Cameroon (180,000). While this is usually the wettest time of year in the Sahel region, this year's rains have been heavier than usual, causing widespread devastation.
In a statement on Friday, Save the Children warned that these types of extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe as a result of the climate crisis.
“We expected this was coming with the rainy season – but this level of destruction is something else, and could have been avoided if action was taken sooner,” Vishna Shah-Little, Regional Director of Advocacy, Communications, Campaigns and Media for Save the Children in West and Central Africa said.
"These countries are already ravaged by conflict and insecurity, making it even harder to respond – it is critical that support gets to those who need it in a timely manner to prevent things from getting worse."
Shah-Little added: “And we need to see urgent, bold action on climate change from the global level as its impact on children becomes more and more visible.”
The Sahel region is facing one of the fastest growing humanitarian crises in the world, with more than 35 million people in need of humanitarian assistance this year. Comprising the countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and parts of northern Cameroon and northern Nigeria, the Sahel is a vast region within Africa.
The countries of the Sahel are among the least developed in the world. Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mali rank at the bottom of the Human Development Index (HDI).
Further information
Full text: UNHCR urges inclusion of refugees and IDPs in flood response across West and Central Africa, UNHCR , briefing notes, released September 6, 2024
https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/unhcr-urges-inclusion-refugees-and-idps-flood-response-across-west-and-central