Heavy rains and flooding across East Africa has claimed the lives of at least 155 people and leaving more than 200,000 individuals displaced in Tanzania alone. From Tanzania to Kenya and Burundi, people are struggling with flooding and landslides by the El Niño climate pattern.
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In Tanzania the toll of the rains has been severe with Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa reporting a death toll of 155 people and 236 injured.
The El Niño climate pattern has intensified the rainy season by floods and landslides that have damaged infrastructure and displaced more than 200,000 people.
The Prime Minister addressed the role of environmental degradation, including deforestation and unsustainable farming practices.
President William Ruto ordered the army to assist in rescue operations. Nairobi has been inundated leading to the loss of lives and displacement.
The Red Cross reported at least 45 deaths since March with the number expected to rise as flooding persists. The Mathare slum was hit severely, residents being rescued from flooded homes.
The heavy rains have unleashed a humanitarian crisis in Burundi, where nearly 100,000 people have been displaced.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has sounded the alarm on Somalia, where flash floods have been reported amid rains.
Uganda has also struggled with heavy storms leading to fatalities and displacement of villagers along riverbanks.
The convergence of the El Niño climate pattern with the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has compounded the severity of the rains in East Africa.
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The positive phase of the IOD, characterized by warmer sea-surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean, has contributed to heavier rainfall.
When with El Niño, as witnessed in 1997-1998, the consequences can be catastrophic with extreme flooding claiming thousands of lives across the region.
Governments in the region have mobilized resources to respond to the emergency. In Kenya, President Ruto chaired a multi-agency flood response meeting, directing efforts to provide relief to affected people and relocate those in vulnerable areas.
Prime Minister Majaliwa points to environmental degradation as the driver of the catastrophe, citing deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and unregulated livestock grazing as contributing factors.
Kenya mourns the loss of 35 lives, with floodwaters engulfing homes and communities. President William Ruto mobilizes resources including military assistance to aid in rescue operations and provide relief to affected populations. In Burundi, nearly 100,000 individuals find themselves displaced by rains.
The El Niño climate pattern, characterized by heightened temperatures and extreme weather events intensifies the rainy season by flooding and landslides across the region.
The Indian Ocean Dipole, often referred to as the “Indian Niño,” amplifies rainfall in East Africa particularly with El Niño.
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