Niger’s schools will start the new school year almost a month late due to heavy rain and flooding, the military government said.
“Many schools have been affected, and some are full of those who have been affected,” said a government spokesperson on state radio.
The authorities have moved for the first day from 2 to 28 October.
In the past few weeks, the West African country has been hit by heavy rains, resulting in the death of more than 300 people due to drowning or collapsed buildings, according to the Ministry of Interior.
In the center of the city of Marradi, which is one of the most affected areas, 100 tents have been erected to accommodate people in schools.
I International Rescue Committee reported that more than 800,000 people have been affected by the floods.
The agency says countries like Niger, Mali, and Nigeria are facing some of the “worst floods in 30 years”.
Like other countries in the arid Sahel region of West Africa, Niger is suffering from the effects of climate change. Along with floods, it has also experienced drought and crop failure in recent years.
Scientists say that many extreme weather events including floods and droughts are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change.
The military government says 9,700 tonnes of grain have been made available to those in need and that “the situation is under control”.
There is also growing concern about the damage and destruction of buildings of cultural importance.
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 the extent of the damage to the historic center in the northern city of Agadez, known as the gateway to the desert. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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