Chad Floods Claim 503 Lives, Affect 1.7 Million People

Severe flooding in Chad since July has resulted in 503 fatalities and impacted approximately 1.7 million people, VOA reported yesterday citing the United Nations.

The floods have devastated 212,111 homes, inundated 357,832 hectares of agricultural land, and led to the loss of 69,659 livestock. All provinces in Chad have been affected, with N’Djamena, the capital, situated at the confluence of the Logone and Chari rivers, facing imminent threats of further flooding.

Water and energy minister Marcelin Kanabe Passale urged residents to treat well water with chlorine due to potential contamination. A flood-monitoring committee has been established to assess risks related to drinking water pollution and rising river levels.

The U.N. has highlighted the need for immediate action and funding to address climate change impacts, as this summer has recorded the highest global temperatures in history, exacerbating weather-related disasters.