UN Warns of Climate Catastrophes: Floods Ravage Sudan and Chad, Drought Strikes Lesotho
The United Nations has raised alarm over severe climate disasters affecting multiple African nations, with Sudan, Chad, and Lesotho bearing the brunt.
The UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric revealed that devastating floods have overwhelmed Sudan and Chad, while a historic drought has left Lesotho grappling with a worsening food crisis.
Speaking at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) briefing, Dujarric disclosed that approximately half a million people in Sudan have been affected by flooding since late June.
South Darfur, Red Sea, River Nile, and Northern states are the hardest hit, with stagnant water heightening the risk of diseases like cholera. Nearly 2,900 suspected cases have been reported since mid-August.
“The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is spiraling, especially in famine-prone areas like El Fasher, where 124,000 residents are affected,” Dujarric said. UN teams, alongside aid partners, are delivering vital assistance, including life-saving nutrition for children in South Darfur’s Nyala.
In Chad, the situation is equally dire, with floods claiming 340 lives and leaving 1.5 million people in distress. Over 160,000 homes have been destroyed, further aggravating the country’s food insecurity. Nearly 3.4 million Chadians are now experiencing acute hunger, as floods devastate agriculture.
In response, Acting UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya has upped the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocation to 8 million U.S. dollars for Chad’s flood relief efforts.
Meanwhile, Lesotho’s food security is deteriorating rapidly due to a severe El Niño-induced drought. Agricultural production has dropped by one-third, leaving 700,000 people facing hunger in the coming months.
The UN has earmarked two million dollars from the CERF to assist the drought-stricken nation, as Assistant Secretary-General Reena Ghelani visited to call for global support.
The escalating climate crises across these regions underscore the urgent need for international aid to avert further devastation.
