Floods displace thousands in East Africa; IOM calls for sustained efforts to address climate mobility – Burundi

Geneva/Nairobi, 8 May – Weeks of heavy rain and flooding in the East African region have caused widespread displacement, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia and Tanzania. So far, 637,000 people have been affected, including 234,000 displaced as of May 3, 2024, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, but the numbers continue to rise.

“Devastating and unprecedented flooding has revealed the harsh realities of climate change, claiming lives and displacing communities. As these people face the difficult task of rebuilding, their vulnerability only deepens,” said Rana Jaber, Regional Director for East and Horn of Africa. “At this critical time, even as IOM responds, the call remains urgent for sustainable efforts to address human mobility driven by a changing climate.”

Torrential rains have triggered a series of catastrophic events, including flooding, landslides and severe damage to vital infrastructure such as roads, bridges and dams. These disasters have not only claimed numerous lives but have also intensified the suffering of affected populations and increased the risk of waterborne diseases.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is working with governments and partners to respond to the impacts of the floods by providing life-saving assistance to affected populations. In Burundi, IOM has provided emergency shelter, blankets, kitchen sets, solar lamps, dignity kits and other items to more than 5,000 people and is supporting the relocation of those affected to safe and less flood-prone areas. IOM is also supporting communities across the country with household-level emergency response capacity, even as flooding and heavy rains continue.

In Kenya, IOM and the Kenya Red Cross, through support from the Government of Japan, are collaborating to deliver shelter and essential household items to help 39,000 people in eastern, central and western Kenya, the most severely affected parts because of the floods. the country. In neighboring Somalia, the Organization reaches approximately 240,000 people by providing shelter materials, hygiene kits, essential medical care and psychosocial support, among other services.

In Ethiopia, IOM has supported more than 70,000 people affected by floods in the Somali and Oromia regions. The assistance, provided through the Rapid Response Fund in collaboration with eight non-governmental organizations, includes the provision of emergency shelter, essential items and cash assistance.

Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change, despite contributing only about 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. East and the Horn of Africa have been particularly affected by alternating cycles of drought and heavy rainfall over the past decade. But these are the heaviest rains and the worst floods seen in decades in the affected countries.

As discussions on global climate change approach at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Germany in June this year, which will shape the agenda of the Conference of the Parties (COP) , it becomes evident that discussions of climate change must now include considerations of human mobility.

Note to editors

East African leaders have signed and committed to the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change, which addresses both the challenges and opportunities of climate mobility. More efforts are needed to support its implementation, including promoting the inclusion of climate mobility in global climate debates, such as the upcoming COP29 in November 2024, which will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan.

For more information, contact:

In Nairobi: Yvonne Ndege, [email protected]
In Geneva: Kennedy Okoth, [email protected]