More floods, drought in Africa

2008-07-09 13:33

Johannesburg - There are more floods and droughts in Southern Africa due to climate change, the UN Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Wednesday.

"The frequency and impact of extreme weather events is a reality," OCHA's Kelly Davids told a disaster management indaba in Midrand.

Last year 14 tropical storms in the South Indian Ocean basin were recorded, in contrast to an annual trend of 9.8.

The 2008 floods in the lower Zambezi River had been more severe than those in 2001 and 2007.

Previously the region had a major drought every 10 years. However three major droughts had occurred in the last three years.

She said co-ordination, information management, contingency planning and preparedness were essential in minimising loss of life.

"Good co-ordination is the most important factor."

Using the example of Mozambique's preparedness she said in 2001, 7000 people died in floods. In 2007 just over 50 deaths were recorded, while in 2008 there had been less than a dozen.

- SAPA