NIAMEY: Niger’s government has announced a nearly month-long delay to the start of the new school year due to heavy rains and flooding. The torrential downpours, which have been impacting the West African nation since June, have resulted in numerous fatalities and affected hundreds of thousands of people.
The military-led government has rescheduled the school opening from October 2 to October 28 for the country’s approximately 4.5 million students. A government statement broadcast on state television noted that many schools have been affected, with some being occupied by those displaced by the floods.
In the central-southern region of Maradi, the hardest-hit area, around 100 tents have been set up in schools to accommodate displaced individuals. As of September 4, the interior ministry reported 273 deaths, including 121 from drowning and 152 from collapsing buildings. Over 700,000 people have been impacted by the heavy rains, according to officials.
In response, the government has provided more than 9,700 tonnes of grain to assist those in eight flood-affected regions, stating that “the situation is under control.” However, the severe weather has also led to the collapse of a historic mid-19th century mosque in Zinder, Niger’s second-largest city, and there are concerns about damage to Agadez’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center.
Niger’s rainy season typically lasts from June to September and often results in significant loss of life; 195 people died in 2022 alone. Scientists have warned that climate change, driven by fossil fuel emissions, is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like flooding.
