Niger – Floods and Rain Continue, Death Toll Rises

by in Africa, News

Flooding brought by seasonal heavy rains has continued to cause widespread damage in Niger, where 27 people have now died and almost 60,000 affected. Over 6,000 homes have been destroyed.

Floods in Zinder region, Niger, August 2022. Photo: OCHA Niger

As reported on 19 July, flooding struck in areas of Maradi and Zinder regions with the onset of the rainy season in June this year. By mid-July, floding had affected other regions and at least 8 fatalities had been reported across the country.

Heavy rain and flooding has continued since then. Maradi, the second largest city in Niger, recorded 94 mm of rain in 24 hours to 21 July. The city of Dosso in the south-west corner of Niger saw 95 mm of rain in 24 hours to 04 August. Most recently heavy rain has affected Zinder Region, with 73 mm falling in 24 hours to 11 August in the city of Zinder.

In a report of 08 August 2022 by the United Nations, a total of 27 people have died as a result of flooding and heavy rain in Niger since the start of the rainy season.

The UN added that flooding and heavy rain have affected seven of the country’s eight regions. Aa total of 57,607 people (6,605 households) have been affected across the regions of Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua, Tillabéri and Zinder.

The most affected regions are Zinder, which recorded more than half of the cases (30,995 victims), Diffa (7,902 victims), Tillabéri (7,670 victims) and Maradi (6,630 victims).

The balance sheet also reports 6,136 collapsed houses, including 3,759, for the Zinder region alone, and 608 heads of cattle lost.

The capital district of Niamey has so far been spared. Levels of the Niger River at Niamey remain well within the safety zone, standing at 3.7 metres as of 11 August, where Red Alert level is over 6 metres.

Levels of Niger river at Niamey, Niger, August 2022. Image: Niger Basin Authority

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