Nearly 950,000 people have been displaced across Mali, Nigeria, and Niger due to severe rains and flooding, which have devastated communities across West Africa.
Non-governmental organization Save the Children warned of looming risks such as disease, food insecurity from crop destruction, and disruptions to education for hundreds of thousands of children forced from their homes. The rains, though expected during this season, have been particularly harsh this year, causing widespread damage and flooding.
Floods Devastate Nigeria
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has been hit hard by the floods, with 29 out of 36 states impacted. Torrential rains have caused major rivers, including the Niger and Benue, to swell, resulting in widespread destruction of homes, crops, and infrastructure. Dams have overflowed, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
According to Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), more than 350,000 people have been affected in Nigeria alone. The rising waters have submerged communities, destroyed farmland, and washed away roads, making access to some regions nearly impossible.
In Adamawa state, one of the worst-hit regions, Save the Children is distributing foldable mattresses, blankets, and hygiene kits to families displaced by the floods. Vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly are a particular focus of the relief efforts, with more than 65,000 people, including 20,000 children, receiving aid.
Mali Faces Worst Floods in Decades
In Mali, flooding has devastated the Segou region in the south and Gao in the northeast. The heavy rains have affected three regions in the country’s west, where homes have been destroyed, and people are now living in makeshift shelters or with relatives.
Save the Children is leading relief efforts in Segou, the region hardest hit by the floods. The organization is providing food security programs, cash transfers, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services. In total, more than 15,600 children have been impacted in Mali, comprising 51% of the total affected population.
Niger Struggles to Recover
In neighboring Niger, all eight regions have been impacted by flooding, with the southern Maradi region bearing the brunt of the disaster. Since floods began in May, the rising waters have washed away homes, crops, and livestock. The situation has worsened, with many families left without shelter, food, or clean water.
Niger’s government has declared a state of emergency, and aid organizations, including Save the Children, are stepping in to assist. The floods have forced more than 150,000 people from their homes, with at least 460 deaths reported across the three affected countries.
The Role of Climate Change
While heavy rainfall is common in West Africa during this time of year, climate experts warn that the severity of this year’s floods is exacerbated by climate change. Warmer temperatures are intensifying rainfall patterns, leading to more frequent and devastating floods across the region.
Save the Children, in a statement, called on national governments to take immediate action to address the climate crisis. The organization urged countries to “rapidly phase out the use and subsidy of fossil fuels” and ensure a “just and equitable transition” to renewable energy in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
“Climate change is hitting the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people the hardest,” Save the Children said. “We must act now to prevent further destruction and loss of life.”
Urgent Humanitarian Response Needed
The humanitarian situation in Mali, Nigeria, and Niger is becoming increasingly dire. With crops destroyed and homes submerged, hundreds of thousands of people are in need of immediate assistance.
Humanitarian organizations are calling for increased international support to help meet the urgent needs of the displaced populations. Save the Children continues to provide life-saving assistance in the form of food, water, shelter, and medical care, but the scale of the disaster is overwhelming.
As the rains continue, the risk of further flooding remains high, and experts warn that without significant intervention, the situation could deteriorate further.
