“Niger floods delay start of new school year Niger’s military government has postponed the start of the school year to October 28 due to heavy rains and floods. More than 300 people have died and 800,000 have been affected by the region’s worst floods in 30 years.”, — write on: unn.ua
Details
“Several schools were affected, and others are occupied by the injured,” a government official said on the state TV channel.
The authorities moved the start date from October 2 to October 28.
The West African country has been hit by incessant downpours over the past few weeks, killing more than 300 people through flooding or collapsed buildings, according to the interior ministry.
The International Rescue Committee said more than 800,000 people were affected by the floods. The organization says countries such as Niger, Mali and Nigeria have faced some of the “worst floods in 30 years”.
The military government says that 9,700 tons of grain have been provided to the needy and that the situation is under control.
There is also growing concern about the damage and destruction of buildings of cultural significance. A few weeks ago, a 19th-century mosque built of wood and straw collapsed in Zinder, the country’s second largest city. There are also fears about what damage has been done to the historic center in the northern city of Agadez, known as the gateway to the desert. This object is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Addition
Like other countries in the semi-arid Sahel region of West Africa, Niger is suffering from the effects of climate change. In addition to floods, it has also experienced droughts and crop failures in recent years.