Schools in Niger are starting the new school year almost a month late due to heavy rains and flooding, the military government said.
“Several schools have been affected and others are being occupied by those affected,” a government spokesman told state broadcaster.
Authorities have moved the start date from October 2 to October 28.
The West African country has been hit by persistent downpours in recent weeks, with more than 300 people dying from drowning or collapsed buildings, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
In the central-southern town of Maradi, one of the worst-hit areas, about 100 tents have been set up to house people in schools.
The International Rescue Committee reported that more than 800,000 people have been affected by the floods.
According to the organization, countries such as Niger, Mali and Nigeria are facing the “worst flooding in 30 years”.
Like other countries in the semi-arid Sahel region of West Africa, Niger is suffering from the impact of climate change. In addition to flooding, it has also experienced droughts and crop failures in recent years.
Scientists say extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.
The military government says 9,700 tons of grain have been made available to those in need and that the “situation is under control”.
There is also growing concern about the damage and destruction of buildings of cultural significance.
A few weeks ago, a 19th-century mosque made of wood and straw collapsed in Zinder, the country’s second-largest city.
There are also fears about the extent of damage to a historic centre in the northern city of Agadez, known as the gateway to the desert. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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