Madagascar is choas as El Nino and climate crisis raise serious drought fears

Madagascar is highly susceptible to extreme weather events. But the brutal combination of El Nino – a naturally occurring phenomenon known to significantly disrupt global weather patterns – and the raging climate change is exacerbating the situation. Mr Das on X explains.

In recent years, the island nation in Africa has been hit by unprecedented cyclones and experienced the most severe drought in four decades, triggering concerning levels of hunger and pushing thousands of people into near-famine conditions.

Devastating impacts on people living in Madagascar

Daniel Dickinson from UN News recently spoke to Reena Ghelani, the UN’s Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Nino response. The expert is in Madagascar, visiting projects designed to make the population more resilient and less vulnerable to extreme events.

Ghelani mentioned that the climate emergency is likely to make El Nino happen more frequently and more intensely. The impacts are much harsher and because communities don’t have time to recover from the previous impact, they are more vulnerable.

Upon being asked about the impacts on people living in Madagascar, she noted that people are unable to grow the food they need to live. “If you can’t feed yourself, then you are sending your children out to look for other ways to find food, so they are not going to school.”

It is important to listen to the local people

Ghelani also elaborated on the role played by early warning systems in such situations, adding that the UN Secretary-General’s Early Warnings For All initiative is being implemented in the island nation by the Government, with support from the UN.

In addition, she highlighted the importance of good cooperation with local partners. Governments must have the capacity to respond, she further mentioned, noting that it is important to listen to the local people as they know the weather and what works.