Disaster Prone in Africa Due to Extreme Climate Change

Disaster prone in Africa have become a major concern for governments and disaster management agencies. Disaster risk mitigation has become a national program, improving the safety of communities in vulnerable areas. Not only natural disasters, but also disasters caused by climate change have been addressed.

The Areas of Disaster Prone in Africa

Not all, but most areas in Africa are hit by climate disasters. This continent is at high risk of increasingly severe climate disasters because of extreme climate change. Only a small part of the continent remains safe. The climate diversity and geographic conditions in Africa are driving factors in this vulnerability.

The area of disaster prone from climate in Africa, or hazardous areas, are divided into several zones. There are heat waves and a lack of rainfall that cause drought in the Horn of Africa (Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Ethiopia). Several disasters, like flooding, drought, and tropical cyclones, occur in Southern Africa. Heavy rains, flash floods, and tropical cyclones are several disasters in Malawi and Mozambique. Meanwhile, Sudan is hit by landslides.

The Effect of Extreme Climate Change

The disaster-prone in Africa is proof that Africa is the most sensitive continent to climate change. Geographically, Africa has a pattern of disasters across the continent. It is the form of a combination of mountains, rainforests, and vast deserts. Here is the various climate disasters that have struck Africa.

1. Floods

One sign of extreme climate change is sudden, intense rainfall. This prolonged, heavy rain automatically causes flooding. When the overflow and the force of the water are particularly strong, flash floods occur.

2. Glacier Melting

Environmental issues are currently receiving increasing attention. Global warming is a trending topic. This complex situation is caused by greenhouse gas emissions, as one of the indicators of which is the rapid melting of glaciers in Africa. Its impacts are extreme drought and ecosystem damage.

3. Drought

Besides causing floods, climate change is causing drought in extreme conditions. Specifically, the extremely hot temperatures and humidity fluctuations are the causing factors of drought. As a result, people bear the shortage of water resources and health problems.

4. Heat Waves

The last is heat waves. It also occurs in Africa and has become increasingly intense over the past few decades. These heat waves cause extremely hot temperatures, droughts in the long term, fires, and various health problems, such as dehydration and respiratory problems.

The Strategic Disaster Management

The various climate disasters affecting Africa are increasingly becoming a major focus for governments. The risky situation caused by climate change needs real action. Adaptation and mitigation strategies are two effective programs in Africa.

1. Adaptation Program

Given the impacts of climate change in Africa, the primary action is adaptation. The government is strengthening national policies and plans focusing on climate disaster management. In line with it, the government is strengthening the contributions of various stakeholders to reduce emissions and increase resilience.

Various outreach and education programs are also being implemented as an initial step in implementing this national program. The issue of climate change and climate disasters is no longer tolerable, necessitating immediate adaptation to mitigate the risks.

2. Mitigation Program

Besides adaptation, the threat of climate disasters is pushing African governments to implement specific mitigation programs. The first stage is monitoring and identifying risks. Governments, through relevant agencies, are installing sensors to detect climate disasters. These sensors include ground-based sensors (measuring humidity, rainfall, temperature, soil conditions, etc.) and airborne sensors (satellites).

These sensors monitor for signs of climate disasters. To respond to the sensors' performance, the African government has implemented the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS).

The implementation of this warning and evacuation system involves all relevant parties collaborating according to their respective roles. This includes not only disaster management agencies but also social communities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and the general public.

Among the many climate disaster management strategies in Africa, a warning system plays a crucial role. It is connected to detection sensors, which provide accurate warning signals before disasters occur. A growing number of African countries are implementing warning systems. This is related to increasingly extreme climate change and the disaster-prone in Africa.

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