Sudan and Chad are facing severe flooding, impacting hundreds of thousands of individuals and threatening food security, while Lesotho is confronted by a significant drought leading to hunger crises. The UN is actively providing aid and increasing financial support to mitigate these humanitarian challenges.
Recent reports indicate that Sudan and Chad are experiencing severe flooding, while Lesotho is grappling with a critical drought situation. According to Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, significant rainfall and flooding have adversely affected approximately half a million individuals across various regions in Sudan, including South Darfur, the Red Sea, River Nile, and Northern states, since late June. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is exacerbated by this flooding, particularly in areas already at risk for famine. Notable impacts have been seen in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, where an estimated 124,000 individuals are currently affected by the heavy rainfall. Furthermore, stagnant water from the floods has raised concerns over the spread of diseases, with nearly 2,900 suspected cholera cases reported since mid-August. The United Nations, alongside its partners, is actively providing assistance, having delivered life-saving therapeutic food to 6,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Nyala, South Darfur. In Chad, the situation mirrors that of Sudan, wherein flooding has intensified across the nation. Authorities report a tragic toll of at least 340 fatalities, while nearly 1.5 million individuals have been affected, and more than 160,000 homes destroyed. The agricultural sector is being severely impacted, resulting in heightened food insecurity, with approximately 3.4 million people facing acute hunger during the current lean season. In response, the Acting UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, has increased financial support from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to $8 million to aid in flood relief efforts. Concurrently, Lesotho is enduring detrimental effects from a historic drought attributed to climatic changes, particularly El Niño. The government has identified 700,000 individuals struggling with hunger, prompting a national disaster declaration in July due to looming food insecurity. Agricultural output has declined by one third on average, severely affecting food availability. To assist, the acting UN emergency relief coordinator has allocated $2 million from the CERF for drought relief initiatives, alongside a call for increased international support to address this crisis.
The current humanitarian challenges facing Sudan, Chad, and Lesotho are a result of extreme weather events, highlighting the vulnerability of these regions to climate-related disasters. Flooding in Sudan and Chad has led to losses of life and extensive damage to infrastructure, exacerbating pre-existing humanitarian issues, while the drought in Lesotho reflects the broader impacts of climate change on food security and agricultural productivity. Understanding these scenarios requires acknowledging the interplay between environmental factors and socio-economic conditions in the affected areas, which makes humanitarian assistance crucial for disaster response and recovery efforts.
In conclusion, the flooding in Sudan and Chad, coupled with the drought affecting Lesotho, showcases the pressing humanitarian issues exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather conditions. While efforts are being made by the United Nations and local authorities to provide critical assistance and resources to those impacted, the scale of these challenges necessitates ongoing international support and cooperation to mitigate the effects of such crises in the future.
Original Source: news.cgtn.com
