Climate change and conflicts are intensifying extreme flooding in Africa, which is particularly widespread in the Sahel region. The recent devastating floods in Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon are a stark example, with over 2,000 deaths and millions displaced, according to a study focused on the floods in Sudan by scientists at World Weather Attribution, an organization that studies and calculates the impact of climate change on extreme weather events.
The researchers found out that human-caused climate change has significantly increased the likelihood and intensity of heavy rainfall, leading to unprecedented flooding in both arid and semi-arid regions.
Similar studies conducted in 2022 on Lake Chad and the Niger Basin found similar results, highlighting the growing risk of extreme flooding in West Africa due to climate change, the research noted.
"Ongoing conflicts and widespread displacement in Sudan, Nigeria, and Chad have amplified flood risks, intensifying vulnerabilities. The intersection of conflict and climate change, driven by migration pressures, maladaptation, and weak governance, further exacerbates competition for resources and creates opportunities for instability," the study read.