Global warming: Scientists warn about “deadly flooding in Africa”

Amid some Nigerian communities facing devastating flooding this week.

Global warming significantly intensified the 2024 rainy season in many African countries, resulting in devastating floods, according to scientists.

According to reports, scientists claim this alarming flood trend sparked widespread destruction and loss of life.

The World Weather Attribution (WWA) network revealed on Wednesday that human-driven climate change had exacerbated seasonal downpours across the Niger and Lake Chad basins by 5 – 20 percent this year.

WWA emphasized that the increased rainfall was primarily caused by the use of fossil fuels, unleashing a humanitarian catastrophe.

Mr. Izidine Pinto is a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and one of the study co-author.

Mr. Pinto highlighted the severe consequences of global warming and climate change.

“These results are incredibly concerning”, said Pinto.

He pointed out that “spells of heavy summer rainfall” had become the “new normal” in Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad”.

Moreover, he cautioned: “With every fraction of a degree of warming, the risk of extreme floods will keep increasing”.

The dire situation posed by global warming necessitates urgent action.

He called for the United Nations COP29 climate summit to “accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels” when it convenes in Azerbaijan next month.

The devastating impact of global warming is evident

According to the UN aid agency OCHA, floods killed approximately 1,500 people and displaced over one million in West and Central Africa this year.

Additionally, the rains overwhelmed dams in Nigeria and Sudan.

WWA warned that such downpours “could happen every year” if global temperatures increase to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

This is potential to happen as early as the 2050s as reported.

The network’s scientists focused on war-torn Sudan.

They analyzed current weather trends and compared them to patterns in a world without human-induced warming.

Their findings indicate that month-long spells of intense rainfall in parts of Sudan had become heavier, due to global warming.

Africa, despite being the least contributor to carbon emissions globally, bears the brunt of adverse weather effects.

A researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, Joyce Kimutai noted this.

“Africa has contributed a tiny amount of carbon emissions globally, but is being hit the hardest by extreme weather”, she stated.

Global warming compounds other human-made problems.

Scientists stress the need for better maintenance of dams and investment in early warning systems.

Clair Barnes from the Centre for Environmental Policy emphasized: “This is only going to keep getting worse if we keep burning fossil fuels”.

Earlier on flood in Nigeria

According to Diaspora Digital Media, communities in Etsako East, Etsako Central, and Esan South East of Edo state, faced devastating floods earlier this week.

The severity of the situation was confirmed by Mr. Christopher Ojimah.

Mr. Ojimah is the desk Officer on Relief Materials and Distribution for Esan South East Local Government.

As the local government secretary for the Emergency Committee, Ojimah revealed that the floods have displaced many residents.

These residents are reported to have taken refuge at the local government’s internally displaced camp.

Unfortunately, some communities, such as Ifeku, have been completely submerged underwater.

The catastrophic event has resulted in significant losses, with cattle and personal belongings being swept away.

This isn’t the first time Edo state has experienced flooding.

There have been warnings that residents in low-lying areas should relocate to higher grounds.

This includes area around Etsako East, Etsako Central, and Esan South East.

This is due to potential flooding caused by the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

He said: “The release of water from the Lagdo Dam has caused flooding in these three local government areas, with their houses submerged and residents having to abandon their houses.

“There are some communities, especially, Ifeku, is completely submerged, and their properties have livestock swept away.

“The IDP camp in Esan South East is already filled with residents”, he stated.

Mr. John Odaku recounts

According to Mr. John Odaku, a local in the impacted area, their farmlands were flooded.

Mr. Odaku said that they could not rescue neither their cattle nor crops.

He said: “Our crops, such as yam, cassava, and groundnut, among others, have been submerged by flood while farm produce already harvested were swept away.

“We could not take our belongings due to the rising level of the flood, which is more than that what we experienced last year.

“We couldn’t salvage our crops and farm produce and livestock as they were swept away by the ravaging flood”.

He acknowledged the local government for doing their best to help in such trying times.

He further urged the federal government to come to their aid.

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