The Horn of Africa, where extreme weather events are occurring with increased frequency and intensity, is one of the region’s most vulnerable to climate change.
At least 111 people, including 16 children, have died and 700,000 displaced in floods caused in recent weeks by torrential rains hitting the Horn of Africa, According to Save the Children.
The Horn of Africa, where extreme weather events are occurring with increased frequency and intensity, is one of the region’s most vulnerable to climate change.
El Nino is a natural phenomenon that returns every 2 to 7 years. This phenomenon which can last several months, has the consequence of increasing drought in certain regions, and precipitation in others such as northeast Africa.
Since late 2020, Somalia as well as parts of Kenya and Ethiopia have been hit by the worst drought the region has seen in 40 years. In these three countries, dozens of people have died or disappeared due to flooding caused by heavy rains.
El Nino has already wreaked havoc in eastern Africa. From October 1997 to January 1998, gigantic floods caused more than 6,000 deaths in five countries in the region.