Severe flooding in Burundi, driven by climate change, is displacing families and spreading diseases while exposing significant aid gaps in one of the world’s poorest nations. Residents, like Asha, face devastating effects as they navigate life near Lake Tanganyika, enduring persistent flooding that worsens yearly. Urban planning experts highlight the lake's rising temperatures resulting in increased rainfall and flooding, leading to temporary shelter conditions. The UN reports Burundi as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate shifts, with recent disasters causing significant displacement, revealing an urgent humanitarian crisis.
"We've been underwater for years," said Asha, aged 32, emphasizing the persistent flooding caused by climate change that has disrupted her family's life in Burundi.
Bernard Sindayihebura explains that surface temperatures on Lake Tanganyika have climbed steadily, leading to heavier rainfall and exacerbating the flooding issues in surrounding areas.
Burundi ranks among the world's poorest nations, standing 187th out of 193 on the UN Human Development Index, highlighting the urgency for aid in such vulnerable areas.
In 2024, pounding rains, magnified by the El Nino phenomenon, displaced nearly 100,000 people and claimed numerous lives, revealing the critical need for immediate humanitarian assistance.
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