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Elizabeth Kukighir, a resident of Abuwa, has been battling annual floods that have devastated her rice farm and left her struggling to provide for her family of more than ten. “I lost everything,” she said, her voice heavy with despair. “My rice, my cassava, my corn – everything was gone.”
The floods, which have become increasingly frequent in recent years, have left Elizabeth and her family with no means of sustenance. “We have no way of catering for ourselves,” she explained. Despite the repeated losses, Elizabeth and her fellow villagers have been left to fend for themselves. “There is no one to help us,” she said. “No one comes to our aid.”
With each flood, the struggle for survival becomes even more difficult. Elizabeth and her family are forced to navigate the treacherous floodwaters to reach their remaining crops. “We enter the mud waters and cross to the other parts,” she said. The journey is not without its hazards. “We get hurt with splinters and other things,” Elizabeth said, her face etched with worry. Elizabeth’s story is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of climate change on communities around the world. As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increase, so does the vulnerability of those who depend on the land for their livelihoods.
The government has a responsibility to support communities like Abuwa in the face of these challenges. By investing in flood control measures and providing assistance to those affected by floods, the government can help alleviate the suffering of those who are most vulnerable.
Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resources Centre) is a non-governmental organisation and non-partisan human rights and development league.