In a scene that became familiar to the inhabitants of Lake Tennika in Burundi, Asha – a mother of 4 children – found herself swimming in the water inside the living room, after the floods flooded her house in Gatamumba city on the border with the capital Bogombura.
Because of the frequent floods, the population has increasingly resorting to erecting tents on the roofs of their homes, while children between homes move on primitive rolls made of plastic, which exacerbated the suffering of citizens in Burundi, which is one of the poorest countries in the world, and is classified as one of the 20 most of the country -threatening climate change.
Lake Tennisha
Climate change caused And global warming In increased floods, and the water level in Tangjansia, the second largest lake in Africa, whose levels have been high above the normal rate since 2018, prompting many residents to leave their homes, and resort to the camps for the displaced.
Lake Tanganaqa is famous for its seasonal fluctuations in the water level, but this phenomenon has been exacerbated by global warming, according to Bernard Cinnhibura, who specializes in urban planning and the environment at the University of Burundi.
As the lake is inflated, the Rosiezi River is no longer able to drain the water to it, causing continuous floods that swept neighboring areas such as the city of Gatumba on the northern bank.
The situation exacerbated more in 2023 when Asha and her family were forced to escape from a severe flood, as the water reached her waist, and resorted to temporary shelter close to her town.
Exudger over 100 thousand
During the current year, before it, the displacement operations were repeated from the areas adjacent to the lake with the invasion of flood water for entire neighborhoods. Until recently it was an example of urban and elegant urbanism in the state of Burundi.
Burundi is classified as east Africa Among the poorest countries in the world, ranked 187 out of 193, according to the Human Development Index issued by the United Nations, and is among the 20 most fragile countries in the face of climate change.
In 2024, heavy rains caused the displacement of nearly 100,000 people and a number of victims, despite the lack of official numbers so far.
Ariela, a mother of 7 children, is currently residing in the “Gatry” camp for the displaced in the north of the country, that she lost everything during the Gatumba floods in 2020, and said that her house had collapsed, and almost lost one of her children because of the torrents that washed away many.
Although the Ariela family had to move between two different camps for the displaced in search of safety, it was once again exposed to the floods caused by the floods.
Children’s suffering
In Gatumba, the local community leader, Jean -Marie Nieunukor, 42, says the residents are doing their best to adapt to the harsh conditions, but the situation is still catastrophic as he put it.
He added that “children suffer from diarrhea because the water was mixed with sewage and the streets were flooded … There are many cholera cases.”
Save the Children has appealed to the organization “Save the Children” The international community To provide support, but decisive financing has stopped due to the suspension of the US President’s administration Donald Trump About 83% of American humanitarian projects, including climate programs.
It was US Previously, about 40% of the total global humanitarian aid, and no other country has been able to bridge this gap so far.