Unprecedented rains sound climate change warning
Pastor Dale Morgan
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*Unprecedented rains sound climate change warning*
20 Sep 2007 13:50:00 GMT
Source: Christian Aid - UK
Christian Aid partner organisations across Africa say the extreme
rainfall experienced by the continent this summer is the worst in
decades and is having a devastating impact on the food supply.
In the east, unusually heavy rain started falling across the Ethiopian
and Ugandan highlands in June and in Sudan in July. Southern parts of
Sudan were particularly affected due to the high levels of water in the
White and Blue Nile rivers which flow from Uganda and Ethiopia respectively.
Christian Aid is already responding to the floods in Sudan through
partner organisations in Renk. They are providing essential items such
as plastic sheeting, mosquito nets and cooking utensils and planning the
longer term recovery work for affected families.
In Uganda Samuel Okiror from Christian Aid partner, TEDDO, said: 'The
weather conditions are becoming more and more unpredictable. Farmers
find it difficult to decide when to plant their seeds as the rains are
either not sufficient or consistent.
'This year heavy rains started in July during harvest. Swamps filled up
and floods covered most of the crops which were due for harvest. Such
rains as this were last recorded in 1961.'
The unusually heavy rainfall also caused problems as the ground was
extremely dry from earlier droughts and could not absorb water. The
torrential rains have swept away crops and left subsistence farmers
totally destitute.
The Budalangi region of Kenya normally floods at this time of the year
but the intensity of the rains has meant the dykes have burst forcing at
least 20,000 people to flee their homes.
Here again the flooding occurred just before the harvest which has left
the residents forced to rely on aid from government and aid agencies.
Local people say the flooding has become more severe in recent years.
'Before we would go to higher places to stay but then the waters used to
recede quickly,' said one resident. 'The rains seem to go on throughout
the year nowadays.'
'These extremes of weather are exactly what have been predicted,' said
Andrew Pendleton, Christian Aid's senior climate policy analyst. 'Long
dry periods followed by short, torrential rainy spells are creating
havoc. Harvests are being destroyed with the result people are no longer
able to feed themselves. The situation is only going to get worse unless
we take action now.'
West Africa has been severely affected. In Mali, the heavy rains arrived
in July with 150 - 200 mm accumulating in a few hours. Homes and crops
have been devastated.
Yacouba Kone from Christian Aid's office in the capitol Bamako said: 'In
Bandiagara 20 dams and five bridges have been completely destroyed. The
dams are a lifeline for the people of the Doon Plateau where there is a
chronic lack of land for agriculture. All the market gardens have been
destroyed.
'Many elderly people I spoke to say these are the worst floods in Mali
since 1946.'
Mr Kone added that many of the people who had lost their homes were
seeking refuge in schools, which are generally more solidly constructed.
This has delayed the start of the school year for the children.
Christian Aid partner organisation APH is providing 1,345 people in
Bandiagora with clean water, blankets and food.
Christian Aid has conducted risk reduction training with partner
organisations in west Africa. In recent years these countries have had
to cope with severe drought and locust infestations.