AFRICAN

Africa, in the last few decades, has witnessed a series of devastating weather phenomena that are becoming increasingly extreme in nature. To therefore underestimate the effect of climate change in Africa is to play the ostrich, because the consequences of doing nothing, for a continent already beset by economic exploitation, terrorism and poverty, is too dire to even contemplate.

Nigeria was no different. In the first week of October, the major rivers, River Benue and River Niger, burst their banks after days of torrential downpour. The Abuja to lokoja highway in Kogi state was flooded and became impassable. Trucks heading to Lagos to supply herds of cows and goats, got stuck for days. The herd soon started dying of thirst and hunger. Some drivers had no choice but to start a mass slaughtering of the herd in order to reduce their losses. It was a nightmarish sight of gore. But people had no choice.

Trucks with petroleum products from Lagos heading to the nation's capital, Abuja, were also delayed, causing artificial scarcity of fuel in Abuja and environs, thereby causing a dislocation of the transport system.

Thousands of people lost their houses and furniture, and also farmlands and livestock. About 300 people lost their lives, and many more are still missing. It was a catastrophe.

In Durban, South Africa, the third largest city with a population of over 3 million people, the rain fell incessantly in April for two weeks, and by the time the rains stopped, flooding had led to the death of over 450 people, and many more missing. Roads were cut off; houses, livestock, and cars washed away; tens of thousands left homeless; drinking water scarce; and power outages rampant, while fallen cables posed danger of electrocution. It was the heaviest rain in 60 years, and it left unimaginable devastation in its wake.