At least 32 people have died in floods and landslides in Niger during the rainy season, which have affected more than 66,000 people since June, authorities said.
According to the latest data published by the Civil Protection Agency and published by Agence France-Presse, 17 people died as a result of the collapse of their houses, another 15 drowned and 44 were injured.
The worst affected areas include Zinder in the south, Diffa in the southeast and Tillabéri in the southwest. So far, the capital city of Niamey has escaped catastrophic consequences.
According to the United Nations Human Development Index, Niger is the poorest country in the world and floods frequently during the rainy season.
The rainy season lasts from June to August or September. For years, the country’s rainy season death toll has been on the rise, especially in the desert north.
Torrential rains have killed at least 70 people and affected more than 200,000 in 2021, according to authorities and the United Nations.
According to Minister for Disaster Management Lawan Magaji, “Niger loses an average of 40 billion francs ($63 million) every year … due to floods and droughts.”
