Save the Children: Floods displaced over 950k people across West Africa in 2024

Save the Children, an international charity organisation, says heavy rains and floods across West Africa have forced nearly 950,000 people, many of them children, from their homes.

In a statement on Friday, the organisation listed Nigeria, Mali, and Niger Republic as the most affected countries.

“While this is normally the rainiest time of the year in the region, this year’s rains have been more severe than usual, causing widespread flood damage to four regions (Bamako, Ségou, Koulikoro, and Gao) of Mali, the northern states of Nigeria and the Maradi region of Niger,” the statement reads.

“These kinds of extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe as a result of the climate crisis.”

In Nigeria, flooding has affected 29 of the country’s 36 states — mostly in the northern areas.

“The torrential rainfall has led to the overflowing of dams and rising water levels of the two largest rivers, the Niger and the Benue, resulting in the death of over 200 people including children,” the statement added.

On top of those killed, more than 225,000 have been displaced from their homes across the country, while more than 2,100 have been injured.

Over 115,265 hectares of farmland have also been said to be damaged by the floods in a country with already high rates of food insecurity.

In Mali, where the government has declared a national state of disaster, the floods have forced 73,778 people including 32,889 children from their homes.

The organisation said many of the children are seeking shelter in schools, risking a delay to the school term which is scheduled to start in October.

Meanwhile in Niger Republic, buildings, bridges, and roads have been washed away with at least 265 people reported killed.

The statement said children remain at risk of drowning, waterborne diseases, and electrocution from exposed wires.

Vishna Shah-Little, regional director of advocacy, communications, campaigns and media for Save the Children in West and Central Africa, said:
“We expected this was coming with the rainy season – but this level of destruction is something else, and could have been avoided if action was taken sooner.”

“These countries are already ravaged by conflict and insecurity, making it even harder to respond – it is critical that support gets to those who need it in a timely manner to prevent things from getting worse.”

Shah-Little called for urgent, bold action to tackle climate change from the global level as its impact on children becomes more visible.