1133. Climate Change Exacerbates Humanitarian Crises Associated with Floods in the Sahel Region 

During the rainy season from July to September 2024, most of the Sahel region was hit by very heavy rainfall, with devastating floods in Sudan in August and in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon in September. These severe floods have hit a very vulnerable region, significantly deepening Sudan's complex humanitarian crisis and straining the ability of aid organizations and government agencies to respond.

On October 23, World Weather Attribution, which analyzes the causal relationship between extreme events and climate change, found that rainfall intensity has increased by about 18% since 1981 across the study region, highlighting the need to prepare for more extreme precipitation events under future warming.

Ongoing conflicts in the region are compounding the risk of vulnerability in addition to existing problems such as poverty, rapid urbanization, and aging infrastructure. In particular, the conflict has left millions of people living in makeshift shelters, putting them at risk of flooding due to extreme rainfall.

Transboundary rivers in sub-Saharan Africa require coordination between neighboring countries, hindering the operation of comprehensive flood management and early warning systems. Strengthening early warning systems by improving cross-border data sharing and expanding access to warning and risk information is essential to reduce the loss of life.

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program