In Southern Africa , global warming is becoming more of a human rights issue than an environmental problem. It is the most pressing issue of our time, yet it has been ignored. It is now affecting the obscene poor of the sub continent as floods sweep away their gardens with some dying in the process.
According to Plan International, a non governmental organization operating in Southern Africa, 45 people have so far been killed by the floods caused by the heaviest rains the region has never experienced before. Thousands are refugees in their own countries as they have fled from their homes .The floods have also swept away corn fields, the staple food for the sub region.
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has declared his country a national disaster. Already .According to BenedictoTembo, a senior journalist in Zambia, 3,000 people are affected in Mazabuka District and 2,200 people were affected in Sinazongwe District It is also reported that there is severe damage to maize and cash crops due to water-logging and washing away of plants. Tembo says there is rain most days of the week causing floods and the number is increasing by the day. Aid agencies are already in the field distributing tents and other necessities.
Zimbabwe , which is already facing food shortages with its people seeking refugee in neighboring countries because of the repressive laws, has not been spared from the floods. Media reports indicate that regions of Chipinge and Chiredzi have been worst affected.
In Southern Malawi, over 3,000 people have fled their homes and three have died as a result of the floods. The government had earlier on instructed the people to move upland after metrological experts had warned the government that the country would receive torrential rains. However, the people were reluctant to move citing cultural roots. They said they cannot abandon the graves of their ancestors.
In Central Malawi ,agricultural experts say the rains have washed away much of the fertilizers that people had applied to the plants. Many people fear that the country might not have enough corn this year as the maize in most parts of the region is not healthy.
In the Northern Malawi in Chilumba area, strong winds that accompanied rain destroyed houses. As the report was being compiled, people were living in classroom blocks.
People are worried because much of the fertilizer has been washed away by the floods and might take large amounts of money to buy the inorganic fertilizers. Already the inorganic fertilizers were highly subsidized by the government.
Mozambique, a country which has the Zambezi river which carries all the water from the sub region is worst hit. Thousands have fled their homes . Red Cross officials as well as officials from other non governmental organizations are afraid the situation might get worse as water continue rising from the river. Floodwaters have displaced 57,000 people and are still rising, according to the United Nations office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs.
A pilot en route to Malawi from South Africa observed that corn plants and sugarcane dotted the ragging waters of Zambezi river, a real wastage for farmers.
Lilian Ng'oma, Principal Secretary for relief and disaster in Malawi Government told the press recently over 50 families has crossed into Malawi from Mozambique because their village had been flooded. Officials say the number might increase.
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