Humanitarian Crises in Africa: Flooding in Sudan and Chad, Drought in Lesotho
Both Sudan and Chad are experiencing severe flooding, affecting hundreds of thousands, while Lesotho faces a drought leading to widespread food insecurity. The UN is coordinating response efforts to mitigate the impacts across these nations.
On Monday, it was reported by a UN spokesperson that both Sudan and Chad are experiencing significant flooding, while Lesotho is currently afflicted by drought conditions. According to Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated that heavy rainfall and flooding have adversely affected approximately half a million individuals across Sudan’s South Darfur, Red Sea, River Nile, and Northern states since late June. The flooding has exacerbated an already troubling humanitarian crisis within Sudan. Specifically, in regions vulnerable to famine, such as El Fasher (the capital of North Darfur), around 124,000 people have been impacted by the recent deluge. The standing water caused by the floods is heightening the risk of disease, including nearly 2,900 suspected cholera cases, reported since the latest outbreak began in mid-August. Dujarric noted that United Nations agencies and their partners are actively engaged in assisting those in need, having delivered life-saving therapeutic food to 6,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the city of Nyala in South Darfur last week. Chad is facing a deteriorating situation as floods continue to escalate throughout the country. Official reports indicate that at least 340 individuals have lost their lives, nearly 1.5 million people are affected by floodwaters, and over 160,000 homes have been destroyed. Furthermore, the floods are severely impacting agricultural outputs, leading to acute food insecurity, with approximately 3.4 million individuals facing hunger during this lean season. Dujarric revealed that Acting UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya has elevated the allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) from $5 million to $8 million to bolster the response efforts in Chad. Meanwhile, conditions in Lesotho are rapidly declining due to a historic drought attributed to El Niño effects. The government of Lesotho has declared a national disaster as roughly 700,000 individuals are grappling with hunger. The nation has witnessed an average agricultural production decrease of one-third, further aggravating food insecurity. To mitigate this crisis, the acting UN emergency relief coordinator has allocated $2 million from the CERF for drought response efforts. Assistant Secretary-General and Climate Crisis Coordinator Reena Ghelani has recently visited Lesotho to assess the impacts of drought and advocate for increased international aid.
This report highlights the humanitarian crises currently unfolding in three African nations: Sudan, Chad, and Lesotho. The ongoing floods in Sudan and Chad are resulting from heavy rainfall, which is expected to have significant detrimental effects on already precarious living conditions, contributing to food insecurity and health risks associated with waterborne diseases. Conversely, Lesotho is grappling with a drought that has been exacerbated by climate conditions linked to El Niño, leading to widespread hunger and agricultural losses. These scenarios illustrate the vital need for international support and focused humanitarian efforts to address the immediate and long-term challenges faced by these nations.
In conclusion, the situations in Sudan, Chad, and Lesotho demonstrate the diverse challenges that can arise from climate-related phenomena, impacting vulnerable populations profoundly. Flooding continues to threaten many lives and livelihoods in Sudan and Chad, while Lesotho faces critical food insecurity due to drought conditions. The UN and corresponding agencies are mobilizing resources and support to alleviate these crises, yet the communities remain in urgent need of sustained assistance.
Original Source: news.cgtn.com
