Torrential Rains Ravage Northern Niger

MondAfrique
Des inondations ravagent le nord du Niger
Par Mohamed Ag Ahmedou -
26 juin 2016

Des pluies diluviennes créent une catastrophe humanitaire dans le département d’Ingal au nord du Niger. “La population de la région est fragilisée par les inondations qui ont causé d’énormes dégâts” a déclaré Aghali Etay Kelfedy membre du comité d’appui de la municipalité d’Ingal. Les populations sahéliennes sont plus que jamais touchées par des problèmes de changements climatiques.

Le bilan est alarmant :
-- 644 ménages sinistrés  [644 affected households]
-- 4,204 personnes sans abris  [4,204 people HOMELESS]
-- 161 maisons effondrées  [161 banco houses collapsed]
-- 08 cases emportées  [8 huts swept away]
-- 318 bovins morts  [318 cattle dead]
-- 11,012 ovins morts  [11,012 sheep dead]
-- 10,654 caprins morts  [10,654 goats dead]
-- 227 arsins morts  [227 donkeys dead]
-- 44 camelins morts  [44 camels dead]
-- 98 puits effondrées  [98 water wells collapsed]
-- 116 jardins de 26.2 hectares détruits  [116 vegetable gardens, 26.2 hectares, destroyed]

En tout, 79%, de la province d’Ingal est touchée par les inondations.

Le Sahel, victime du changement climatique

Les cadres de la mairie interpellent désormais le gouvernement nigérien et ses partenaires sur le risque de propagation des maladies transmissibles via l’eau dans laquelle gisent des cadavres d’animaux en décomposition. “Le risque des maladies peut venir de la seule eau consommable qui est disponible dans la province à savoir celle des marigots. Des mesures doivent être prises le plus vite possible pour éviter le pire,” interpelle Aghali.

Les populations se trouvent dans une situation extrêmement difficile suite à la catastrophe qu’elles ont connu à travers ces inondations. Beaucoup de femmes et d’enfants sont condamnés à dormir dans les rues ou les écoles à cause de la destruction de leurs domiciles emportés par les eaux. Selon le cadre de la mairie d’Ingal un comité de crise constitué de huit personnes de la municipalité plus un membre du cabinet du premier ministre a été mis en place pour évaluer la situation.

Depuis quelques années plusieurs dizaines de personnes périssent dans le desert nigérien très touché par les changements climatiques. De nombreux experts africains attirent l’attention sur l’urgence à créer un fond dédié aux catastrophes causées par le réchauffement de la planète dans le Sahel. Pour les tenants de cette initiative, les grands pollueurs au niveau mondial devraient contribuer à alimenter ce fonds à 90 %.

http://www.mondafrique.com/inondations-ravagent-nord-niger/

Freak rainstorms wreak havoc in Niger desert

Freak rainstorms wreak havoc in Niger desert
Report from Agence France-Presse
Published on 20 Jun 2016
Niamey, Niger | AFP | Monday 6/20/2016 - 12:48 GMT

Unusually heavy rains in Niger's desert north in recent days have killed thousands of goats and cattle, gutted homes and stores, and left three people dead, national television said Monday.

"Torrential rains caused severe damage and three dead in Bazagor", a town in the northwestern province of Tchintabaradene, and destroyed 100 stores and 100 homes, said Tele Sahel.

In Ingal, near the northern city of Agadez, "85 millimetres (3 inches) of rain fell in two hours" on June 14, though yearly rainfall is rarely over 100 to 130 millimetres there.

Hundreds of people have been left homeless in the past days with more than 8,000 goats, sheep, cattle and camel killed in the area, where animal corpses are visible over 20 kilometres, television footage showed.

Sub-Saharan Niger, a vast arid nation, regularly suffers food shortages due to drought.

But early this month the UN warned of floods in 2016 affecting the livelihoods of more than 100,000 people.

Climate change has wrought havoc in Niger, bringing floods, droughts, spikes in temperature and food shortages -- buffeting the lives and livelihoods of millions of the country's farmers.

Flooding in 2012 killed more than 100 people, affected more than half a million Nigeriens and caused at least 135 million euros ($145 million) worth of damage, according to the disaster prevention office.

Floods similarly killed dozens of people and affected hundreds of thousands in 2014 and 2015.

Global warming is only worsening the problems, with the steadily encroaching desert now covering three-quarters of Niger.

hb/kc/ccr/ric

© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

http://reliefweb.int/report/niger/freak-rainstorms-wreak-havoc-niger-desert

Three Dead, Thousands of Tuareg Livestock Perished, Unusual Torrential Rain

Unusual torrential rain in Niger desert kills 3
Ismail Akwei with AFP 20/06 - 15:12

At least three people died and thousands of livestock destroyed after heavy torrential rain in the desert in northern Niger.

Nigerien state television, Tele Sahel, which announced the death toll on Monday described the rain as exceptional adding that it destroyed hundreds of shops and houses.

“Heavy rainfall caused significant damage killing three people in Bazagor, a locality of Tchintabaradene in the northwest,” they announced adding that more than 115 millimeters of rain fell within hours.

On June 14, Ingal, a town hundred kilometers from Agadez in the north, 85 millimeters of rain fell in two hours rendering thousands homeless as it collapsed hundreds of houses, according to local disaster management services.

The waters also killed more than 8,000 goats, sheep and cows prompting the prefect of the town, Abdourahamane Bikki to appeal to the government and international aid for help and the cremation of animal carcasses to prevent serious health problems.

The havoc created by the heavy rain in Niger adds to the number of damages recorded in the west coast of Africa including Ghana and Nigeria where flooding affected major parts of their capital cities.

http://www.africanews.com/2016/06/20/unusual-torrential-rain-in-niger-desert-kills-3/

Thousands of Tuareg Livestock Destroyed after Two Hours of Torrential Rains in Northern Niger

Tuesday, 21 June 2016
A months rain in a couple of hours kills 3 and thousands of livestock in Niger: The latest West African country to be devasted by floods

At least three people died and thousands of livestock destroyed after heavy torrential rain in the desert in northern Niger.
Nigerien state television, Tele Sahel, which announced the death toll on Monday described the rain as exceptional adding that it destroyed hundreds of shops and houses.
"Heavy rainfall caused significant damage killing three people in Bazagor, a locality of Tchintabaradene in the northwest," they announced adding that more than 115 millimeters of rain fell within hours.
On June 14, Ingal, a town hundred kilometers from Agadez in the north, 85 millimeters of rain fell in two hours rendering thousands homeless as it collapsed hundreds of houses, according to local disaster management services.
The waters also killed more than 8,000 goats, sheep and cows prompting the prefect of the town, Abdourahamane Bikki to appeal to the government and international aid for help and the cremation of animal carcasses to prevent serious health problems.
The havoc created by the heavy rain in Niger adds to the number of damages recorded in the west coast of Africa including Ghana and Nigeria where flooding affected major parts of their capital cities.

http://www.thebigwobble.org/2016/06/a-months-rain-in-couple-of-hours-kills.html

Flooding in Northern Niger Destroys Tuareg Livestock

Freak rainstorms wreak havoc in Niger desert
AFP Wired World 20 Jun 2016 02:54 (South Africa)

Unusually heavy rains in Niger's desert north in recent days have killed thousands of goats and cattle, gutted homes and stores, and left three people dead, national television said Monday.  "Torrential rains caused severe damage and three dead in Bazagor", a town in the northwestern province of Tchintabaradene, and destroyed 100 stores and 100 homes, said Tele Sahel.  In Ingal, near the northern city of Agadez, "85 millimetres (3 inches) of rain fell in two hours" on June 14, though yearly rainfall is rarely over 100 to 130 millimetres there.

Hundreds of people have been left homeless in the past days with more than 8,000 goats, sheep, cattle and camel killed in the area, where animal corpses are visible over 20 kilometres, television footage showed.  Sub-Saharan Niger, a vast arid nation, regularly suffers food shortages due to drought.

But early this month the UN warned of floods in 2016 affecting the livelihoods of more than 100,000 people.  Climate change has wrought havoc in Niger, bringing floods, droughts, spikes in temperature and food shortages -- buffeting the lives and livelihoods of millions of the country's farmers.

Flooding in 2012 killed more than 100 people, affected more than half a million Nigeriens and caused at least 135 million euros ($145 million) worth of damage, according to the disaster prevention office.  Floods similarly killed dozens of people and affected hundreds of thousands in 2014 and 2015.  Global warming is only worsening the problems, with the steadily encroaching desert now covering three-quarters of Niger.

hb/kc/ccr/ric
© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse  AFP Wired World

http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-06-20-freak-rainstorms-wreak-havoc-in-niger-desert/#.V3LYTo5RnE8

Please make a contribution to help Tuareg families in Niger

Tragedy in Northern Niger

Flash floods earlier this month in Niger have destroyed Tuaregs' livestock.  Please click on the link to make a contribution - any amount is welcome.  All funds will go to Sidi Mahmane, the Mayor of In Gall (west of Agadez) in northern Niger to be distributed to these families to help them recover.  Thank you for your support!

Click here for fund-raising website to make a contribution