Tree Aid sounds the alarm on unprecedented flooding in Mali
10th September 2024
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Bamako, Mali – 10th September 2024:
Tree Aid, a leading international NGO driving climate resilience and sustainable development across Africa’s drylands, is sounding the alarm on the catastrophic flooding that has ravaged Mali.
This year’s severe rains and floods have affected 64,500 people across Mali and have caused tragic loss of life and severe damage to communities, agriculture, and infrastructure. The crisis has caused the country’s government to declare a state of national disaster on 23rd August 2024.
Since then, the heavy rain has continued, and the devastating impact of these floods is affecting vast regions across West Africa. Rural families are facing dire consequences: lives have been lost, homes destroyed, crops ruined, and critical infrastructure damaged. The crisis has exacerbated existing challenges, including food insecurity and displacement, placing immense pressure on already vulnerable populations.
A Call to Action
Tree Aid urges the global community to support the relief and recovery efforts in Mali and across West Africa. But this is not enough. With climate change driving more frequent and severe natural disasters and extreme weather events, it is crucial to increase funding and resources to the communities most affected, so they can restore their land and build resilience against future disasters. A key aspect of this resilience lies in effective landscape management, which not only addresses longer term climate adaptation but also provides immediate flood control solutions.
Mohamed Toure, Tree Aid’s Country Director in Mali, emphasises the gravity of the situation:
“The flooding in Mali is a wake-up call for the international community. This disaster has hit communities already grappling with a multitude of challenges and underscores the urgent need for comprehensive action on climate resilience and environmental restoration.
Simple, low-tech interventions such as planting trees lock moisture in the soil and reduce run-off, playing a critical role in stemming the flow of floodwater. Well-managed land can slow down water movement even during heavy rainfall, preventing it from overwhelming rivers and reducing its destructive capability. By focusing on these nature-based solutions, farming communities can mitigate the devastating impacts of floods, whilst building the foundations for long-term environmental stability.
We call on individuals, organisations, and governments to support our efforts and help communities build a more resilient future.”
Tree Aid is committed to enhancing community resilience through education and training on sustainable land management, reforestation and climate adaptation strategies. Our goal is to help communities better prepare for and withstand future environmental challenges and build a stronger, more sustainable future for the region.
For media enquiries, please contact: press@treeaid.org or (+44) 0117 909 6363.