UNITED NATIONS, Aug 30 (IPS) – Since June this year, Chad has been experiencing a prolonged period of heavy rainfall. Major flooding has led to a significant humanitarian crisis, as all aspects of Chadian life, including health, food production and community, have been negatively affected. In addition, response plans have been severely compromised by high levels of hostility in neighbouring countries.
Major flooding has contributed to a staggering death toll and widespread disruption to life. Severe flooding has decimated communities, with thousands losing their homes and all their belongings. The United Nations (UN) briefing on 28 August 2024 detailed the significant physical toll that flooding has taken in Chad.
“All 23 provinces of Chad are now affected by flooding following heavy rains that began earlier in the summer, in June. According to local authorities, 145 people have died. More than 960,000 people have been affected, with around 70,000 homes destroyed,” said Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
In addition, certain regions have been reported to be more affected than others, with some areas only accessible by canoe. Flooding has also led to the collapse of critical infrastructure, including bridges, roads and buildings.
It is important to note that Chad’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. About 80 percent of the workforce is employed in agriculture and livestock. It is estimated that about a quarter of the country’s GDP is determined by crop yields.
Recent floods have decimated farmland and made conditions for growing crops almost impossible, greatly exacerbating Chad’s existing problems of food insecurity and famine.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said: “The floods also had a severe impact on agriculture, with more than 250,000 hectares inundated and 30,000 livestock washed away. With Chad’s malnutrition rates at their highest in nine years, this will only worsen the already dire food security situation.”
OCHA adds that before the floods that began this summer, Chadian authorities had declared a “national food security and nutrition emergency”, indicating that a significant percentage of the population is at risk of famine and malnutrition.
In addition, the World Food Programme (WFP) predicts that around 3.4 million people will face acute food insecurity during the lean season, which is currently underway. In 2024, Chad will face the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded, with a 240 percent increase compared to 2020.
In addition to widespread food insecurity, major flooding has also raised concerns about the transmission of waterborne diseases.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) states: “Four provinces and seven districts are affected by a hepatitis E epidemic, which has a particularly high mortality rate among pregnant women. As of July 15, there have been 3,296 cumulative cases. Ten deaths have been confirmed, five of them pregnant women.”
In addition, floods have reduced access to clean drinking water, leading to an increase in cholera and diarrhea. Furthermore, floods have also been linked to a decline in hygiene, leading to increased cases of malaria, meningitis and respiratory diseases.
Severe flooding has also led to a significant increase in the number of displaced people. As the floods have destroyed thousands of homes across the country, many families have been forced to seek refuge in schools and IDP camps.
“An estimated 1,778,138 people have been forcibly displaced in Chad, while the country hosts 1,388,104 refugees,” the UNFPA said.
Flooding in Chad has also severely hampered the delivery of humanitarian aid, as high water levels in towns and villages hamper the movement of aid trucks. In addition, pre-existing instabilities in national security have been exacerbated as armed conflict in eastern Chad prevents humanitarian aid from reaching those in need.
Sudan’s civil war has led to armed groups forcing millions of civilians out of Sudan. Sudanese authorities have blocked aid through the Adre border crossing, the most efficient route for aid trucks to travel to Chad.
Dujarric added: “Response capacities in Chad are already severely strained by the ongoing crisis in the east of the country, where large numbers of Sudanese refugees have fled to escape the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.”
Currently, the UN is doing much to alleviate the dire conditions in Chad. UNFPA is supporting 73 health facilities and providing supplies to help pregnant mothers and families in the region. WFP is also distributing food and nutritional supplements to families most affected by hunger. In addition, the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) is helping aid workers reach remote areas that were thought to be inaccessible due to flooding.
In addition, the UN has launched the Humanitarian Response Plan for Chad 2024, which calls for $1.1 billion. However, it is only 35 percent funded at the time of publication.
IPS UN Office Report
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
