Niger: Floods - Jun 2024

As of 11 June, 26 communes across Niger have been affected by heavy rainfall and floods. The worst affected communes include 15 in Maradi in the south-central part of the country, five in Tahoua in the west, three in Tillabéri in the southwestern, two in Zinder in the south-centre, and one in Agadez in the north. According to UN OCHA, 18 people died, almost 4,000 people were affected, 329 houses were damaged and eight schools were destroyed. (ECHO, 19 Jun 2024)

Niger is experiencing its worst flooding since 2020 As of 29 July, heavy rains affected more than 63,000 people across the country, resulting in 71 deaths, according to the authorities. Damages include 5,421 houses and 32 classrooms destroyed and 11,584 dead livestock. In 2023 more than 26,200 people were affected during the same period, with 19 deaths. The 2024 floods are the worst compared to the last four years. Humanitarian response efforts remain insufficient to address the growing needs. Shelter, non-food items, and food, particularly sugar, salt, and oil, are in critical shortage. While the government has provided cereals, significant gaps persist. To mitigate the impact of future flood, the government is collaborating with partners to establish early warning systems, identify high-risk areas, and enhance community disaster preparedness. (OCHA, 5 Aug 2024)

Since the heavy rains started at the end of July 2024 that continued through September, the toll of flooding in Niger has continued to worsen. The country's precarious socio-economic conditions exacerbate the vulnerability of its population too, particularly those living in refugee camps, peripheral neighbourhoods, flood-prone areas and densely populated urban zones... A meeting on flood management chaired by Niger's Prime Minister also found that as of 13 September 2024, 125,772 households - representing 924,799 individuals - have been affected. A total of 95,028 homes have been destroyed, 309 people have lost their lives and approximately 21,145 tonnes of food have been lost in the affected regions, further worsening the plight of the population. Additionally, 13,289 hectares of crops have been wiped out and 17,979 head of livestock have perished. (IFRC, 19 Sep 2024)