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Flooding in Sri Lanka: Building Resilience

Flooding in Sri LankaSince 2019, poverty in Sri Lanka has surged, doubling to 25% by 2022. More than 2.5 million individuals now live below the poverty line. Severe flooding, especially in the Colombo region, displaces thousands annually and deepens the cycle of poverty. The projections for major flood events are even more concerning, as they suggest that 34,000 people could be pushed into poverty overnight, with approximately 1,000 of these individuals remaining in poverty a decade later. The latest Yala Monsoon season, which lasts from May to September, displaced communities, destroyed property and claimed lives, highlighting the growing severity of the issue. Addressing this crisis requires immediate, sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and mitigate seasonal floods. Without comprehensive action to combat flooding in Sri Lanka, the nation risks ongoing cycles of impoverishment, displacement and economic instability.

Building Colombo’s Flood Resilience

Colombo, situated within a river basin, faces regular flooding during the monsoon season. However, the city benefits from an extensive network of wetlands, which play a vital role in flood management by absorbing approximately 40% of floodwaters. Wetlands—areas of water-saturated land—serve as natural flood defenses by absorbing excess water and slowing down its flow, which mitigates flood intensity and associated damage. This natural buffer within Colombo helps alleviate the impacts of heavy rainfall and reduces the risks of flooding in Sri Lanka.

Urban expansion, however, has drastically reduced Colombo’s wetland areas, draining and infilling these ecosystems to accommodate growth. The World Bank revealed that Colombo’s wetlands had declined by about 40% over three decades. Wetlands like the Thalangama Wetland, just outside Colombo, suffer from degradation and misuse as dumping grounds. These direct and indirect effects of urbanization intensify Colombo’s vulnerability to flooding.

In response, the government, with support from the World Bank-funded Metro Colombo Urban Development Project, launched the Metro Colombo Wetland Management Strategy in 2016. This initiative prioritizes wetland restoration and integrates these ecosystems into urban planning to prevent further losses. These efforts led Colombo to become the first capital city to earn international Wetland City accreditation from the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 2018, which promotes international protection for its wetlands.

Today, Colombo’s wetlands receive stronger protection. According to BBC, efforts to rehabilitate degraded areas, including the Thalangama Wetland, have turned these spaces into biodiverse tourist attractions while maintaining their role as critical flood defenses. The government has also suspended all activities involving the filling or destruction of wetlands in 2018.

Looking Forward

Colombo has successfully revitalized its degraded wetlands, transforming garbage-filled areas into ecosystems that boost biodiversity and protect against flooding. Community-led cleanups and government initiatives, such as the 2016 Metro Colombo Wetland Management Strategy, have enhanced wetlands’ ability to boost environmental resilience and improve urban quality of life. The Ramsar accreditation has curbed further encroachment by raising awareness. However, rapid urban expansion still threatens these ecosystems, BBC reports. Sustained cooperation between residents, authorities, and organizations remains vital to safeguarding these wetlands, which are crucial to Colombo’s sustainability and flood defense.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) report emphasizes the rising frequency of El Niño events, which intensify monsoons and contribute to flooding in Sri Lanka. Restoring and protecting wetlands is just one of many essential steps to strengthen the country’s flood resilience.

– William Pickering

William is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Updates on SDG 15 in Paraguay: The Work of REDD+ 

SDG 15 in Paraguay
Between 2011 and 2021, Paraguay’s forest coverage fell from 48.2% to 39.8%, with 88% of the deforestation happening in the Paraguayan Chaco, largely due to cattle ranching and coal mining. Domestic laws allow most of these clearances, as they require preserving only 25% of forested land in ranching or mining areas. As part of ongoing efforts and updates on SDG 15 in Paraguay, the country signed the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use in 2021, pledging to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation, according to the World Bank. This commitment aligns with SDG 15 (“Life on Land”), which focuses on the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of ecosystems, like forests.

However, critics argue that this pledge has been vague and ineffective. Rather than achieving its goal of forest preservation, the declaration has resulted in deforestation, permitting invasive eucalyptus plantations to replace biodiverse ecosystems and encroach upon Indigenous lands, the World Bank reports.

According to the World Bank, this issue particularly affects Paraguay’s Indigenous communities, who suffer disproportionately from environmental changes. Approximately 66% of Indigenous people live in poverty, with 34.4% living in extreme poverty—three times the national average. Additionally, 33.5% of Indigenous people are illiterate, less than 1% have access to the Internet and less than 4% benefit from state social protection programs. These conditions heighten the vulnerability of groups like the Qom in the Chaco forest, whose livelihoods are further endangered by harmful eucalyptus plantations introduced under the pretext of conservation, the World Bank reports. This is because Indigenous communities often depend on natural resources for their daily needs, such as gathering and agriculture, as well as for maintaining cultural practices. Here is some information about updates on SDG 15 in Paraguay.

Understanding REDD+

In 2007, the forestry sector accounted for about 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions, prompting the creation of REDD+, an international mechanism designed to reduce deforestation while maintaining forests as carbon sinks. Initially known as REDD, U.N. climate negotiations later expanded it and incorporated it into the Paris Agreement under Article 5. REDD+ now includes conservation, sustainable forest management, and enhancing forest carbon stocks in developing countries. The initiative incentivizes nations to preserve forests by offering financial rewards, making standing forests more valuable than cleared ones.

COP introduced safeguards for REDD+ projects to prevent harm, such as violations of Indigenous rights. These safeguards ensure Indigenous communities and other relevant groups fully participate in decision-making. For nations to receive financial rewards, they must submit reports proving their compliance with these safeguards.

Additionally, the COP urged capable countries to “support capacity-building, provide technical assistance” and facilitate technology transfer to strengthen the effectiveness of these initiatives.

The Corazón Verde del Chaco Project: A Case Study

In 2023, Paraguay’s largest REDD+ initiative, the Corazón Verde del Chaco Project, gained validation for its Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) Standards from the nonprofit organization Verra. This validation demonstrates that the project reduces carbon emissions while also promoting biodiversity conservation and benefiting local communities, including Indigenous peoples.

By earning this validation, the project adds credibility and transparency, making it more attractive to investors and helping secure results-based payments. Covering approximately 300,000 hectares of Indigenous community lands shared by the Maria Auxiliadora community, interviews with community leaders confirmed no evidence that the REDD+ project negatively impacted Indigenous communities.

The Role of REDD+ in Achieving SDGs

REDD+ plays a critical role in Paraguay’s efforts to meet the U.N.’s SDGs, particularly SDG 15 on forest conservation and SDG 10 on reducing inequalities. In the latest updates on SDG 15 in Paraguay, REDD+ aligns with SDG 15 by promoting forest conservation and sustainable land use, offering a more equitable development approach compared to land clearing for cattle ranching and mining. Achieving SDG 15 encourages practices that protect natural resources, which many of Paraguay’s poorest communities, especially Indigenous peoples, rely on for their livelihoods. In addition, REDD+ projects reduce inequalities (SDG 10) by safeguarding the rights of marginalized groups and ensuring they fully participate in decision-making processes, per the safeguards introduced at COP 16.

Future Prospects

Looking forward, ongoing updates on SDG 15 in Paraguay include projects like the Corazón Verde del Chaco initiative, which, with its Verra certification, aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 5.6 million tons of CO2 over its initial 10-year period, according to Quadriz. Beyond reducing emissions, this project will likely strengthen the capacity of local communities in the Paraguayan Chaco, potentially by employing Indigenous technicians to monitor forests, as seen in previous REDD+ initiatives in Paraguay.

The initiative also includes gender-focused projects, such as creating childcare spaces, which enable Indigenous women to participate fully in decision-making and workshops. The project’s scale presents an opportunity to expand these benefits, alleviating stress on Indigenous women across Paraguay. By empowering communities and addressing issues like invasive eucalyptus plantations, this initiative seeks to promote better forest management nationwide while preventing the marginalization of Indigenous groups.

– William Pickering

William is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Renewable Energy in Samoa

Renewable Energy in Samoa
While extreme poverty does not exist in Samoa, 20% of Samoans still live under the national poverty line, a decrease from 21.9% in 2018. This could be due to the initiatives working to increase self-reliance and sustainability focusing on the rural areas and those considered vulnerable, like women and young people.

Energy Projects

In 2019, Samoa conducted two small hydro projects, the first of many, to supply 20% of the Island’s demand for energy. The hydropower plants were constructed on two separate islands (Upolu and Savai’i) and underwent rigorous environmental safeguarding checks to ensure no damage to the surrounding areas. The goal to rely on 100% sustainable energy was on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic challenges, however, in February 2024, the E.P.C General Manager confirmed that the plans are still going steady, intending to have 100% renewable energy in Samoa the next seven years.

The plans come with several challenges, including the “high upfront costs of renewable energy technology,” requiring international partnerships to help fund the opportunities. The main donor parties include the New Zealand Government, The European Union and the Asian Development Bank, according to Hydro Review.

The aim is that the accessibility of cleaner and higher quality services at a lower price will increase and energy poverty will decrease. Samoa was on track to have 100% electricity access, reaching it in 2020, however, in the past four years the rate has been decreasing with the current rate being 98.30%. This decline, whilst not being as low as other countries sets a worrying trend for Samoa especially due to the increase in natural disasters, so action like the new projects (while not urgent) are necessary.

Subsidized Electricity Tariffs

The renewable energy project report states that the vulnerable people of Samoa will receive subsidized electricity tariffs and secure energy for all residents, creating social inclusion to help develop income generation models for the poorest project participants. The projects are established on existing sites with any that required land acquisition from locals being removed from the project, they also serve to increase economic growth and international relations, hoping to outsource the energy to surrounding countries. 

Looking Ahead

This push towards renewable energy in Samoa comes from the increasing reliance on fossil fuels and the increase in natural disasters due to changing weather patterns. By 2100, Samoa could lose 3.8% of its GDP due to the aftermath of natural disasters, potentially threatening the steady decrease of poverty across the country. However, with the recent projects, Samoa has simultaneously addressed both the threat that changing weather patterns hold and the needs of those living below the poverty line, harnessing renewable energy to help on a global and local scale.

– Caitlin Mulholland

Caitlin is based in Lymington, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Cyclone Yagi Devastates Asia’s Vulnerable Communities

Cyclone Yagi’s aftermath has left millions in need of urgent assistance, as it caused significant damage across Southeast Asia. Governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations have mobilized quickly to deliver both immediate and long-term aid to the affected regions. Efforts focus on providing food, clean water, shelter and medical assistance to those displaced by the storm.

Cyclone Yagi

In September 2024, Cyclone Yagi, one of the strongest typhoons to hit Southeast Asia in the past 30 years, devastated more than 1,200 villages across 106 districts in 15 provinces in Vietnam. It damaged nearly 240,600 homes, 1,530 schools and 570 health facilities. The storm displaced more than 72,000 people and approximately 570,000 people, including 163,020 children, are in need of assistance.

Relief Efforts

In Vietnam, the government’s disaster management units have partnered with local NGOs to set up emergency shelters and distribute essential supplies. The Vietnam Red Cross, alongside the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is at the forefront of these relief operations. Their teams are providing food, clean water, hygiene kits and emergency shelter to thousands displaced by the floods and landslides. Psychological support is also being offered to help people cope with trauma.

Plan International, known for its work in child protection, focuses on the needs of vulnerable groups, particularly children and women. In collaboration with local authorities, the organization is distributing hygiene kits and ensuring that children who are among the most affected receive psychological support. The organization’s child-friendly spaces within shelters offer a safe environment where children can engage in activities and recover from the disaster’s emotional toll.

Furthermore, in response to the storm’s widespread destruction, international organizations like the United States Agency for Internal Development (USAID) have pledged financial support. USAID has committed $1 million in humanitarian aid to provide immediate relief and support long-term recovery. This funding is helping to ensure that emergency teams can continue to distribute food, water and medicine while also addressing the urgent need for rebuilding homes and infrastructure in affected areas.

Meanwhile, local authorities are working with various international organizations to ensure that aid reaches remote areas, many of which remain cut off due to floodwaters and landslides. The priority is to restore access to clean water, power and health care services in the most affected regions. Long-term recovery plans are being developed, focusing on rebuilding homes, restoring livelihoods and strengthening disaster preparedness for future storms and natural disasters.

Final Note

As efforts continue, humanitarian organizations stress the need for ongoing support and donations to sustain relief operations. With the threat of more rainfall looming, these efforts are crucial to prevent further devastation and to help communities rebuild their lives.

– Trinity Lee

Trinity Lee is based in Bellevue, WA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How International Aid Is Helping the Victims of Typhoon Yagi

Victims of Typhoon YagiTyphoon Yagi emerged over the South China Sea in early September 2024, before making landfall in several Southeast Asian countries. Described by international organizations as one of the strongest storms in decades, it has caused heavy rainfall and widespread flooding, resulting in extensive physical damage and a total death toll of more than 500. Alongside the efforts of national governments to help their citizens affected by the damage, millions of dollars in international aid for Typhoon Yagi victims have also been provided by institutions such as the European Union (EU), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Aid in Vietnam

Vietnam has been one of the nations most severely affected by Typhoon Yagi, with more than 300 deaths being recorded and more than 50,000 people being forced to evacuate their homes. As a result, international aid for Typhoon Yagi has focused on Vietnamese reconstruction. The U.K. government has given more than $1 million to the country. In contrast, the EU has given about $720,000 of the $2.4 million total promised to Southeast Asia. These have helped supply emergency resources such as food and health care items.

Alongside government aid, Vietnam has also received water sanitizing resources from UNICEF, as widespread flooding has limited the supply of clean water and left 400,000 households in the country without access to it. UNICEF has provided 80,000 water purification tablets and 4,000 liters of clean water to the country’s three worst-hit provinces, alongside other health care items such as hand sanitizers and soap. With many schools damaged or destroyed in the flooding, along with the roads and bridges leading to them, UNICEF has supplied temporary learning materials for children who have lost access to education.

Similarly, the WHO has also supplied one million water purification tablets and 500 water containers to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. It has also worked alongside the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to broadcast radio messages in several ethnic minority languages in order to ensure that various communities receive relevant safety information.

Political Difficulties in Myanmar

Myanmar, further West in the region, has also suffered severe damage as a result of the storm, affecting an estimated 630,000 people and killing more than 200. Heavy rainfall has caused flooding and mudslides, which in turn have damaged and blocked many of the nation’s roads and bridges. Furthermore, the civil war that has gripped the country since 2021 has made it difficult to assess the damage caused in rebel-controlled regions, as their communication with central military powers is limited.

As a result of such difficulties, the EU has dedicated the largest share of its aid to nations affected by Typhoon Yagi, while the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) dedicated emergency food supplies to around 500,000 people affected by flooding in Myanmar. However, some difficulties remain for aid agencies trying to access rebel-controlled areas, both due to political instability and the damage caused to roads and bridges by excessive flooding.

Funding for Other Nations

International aid for Typhoon Yagi victims has also been provided to nations that sustained slightly less damage due to flooding. The EU allocated more than $200,000 to the Philippines and about $166,000 to Laos, while the WFP has distributed shipments of rice in some of the worst affected regions of Laos in order to aid those whose land and crops were damaged due to flooding.

Final Note

Typhoon Yagi has caused destruction across Southeast Asia, severely damaging infrastructure and leaving hundreds of thousands in precarious positions. Through providing clean water, health care and educational supplies, these organizations have demonstrated the importance of international aid in providing relief to those affected by natural disasters and helping nations recover from widespread damage. International aid for Typhoon Yagi victims, from both governments and NGOs, has proved key in providing stability and security for regions impacted by widespread flooding.

– Izzy Tompkins

Izzy Tompkins is based in Leeds, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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3D Printed Weather Stations Combats African Data Poverty

3D Printed Weather StationsIn 2019, The Washington Post covered a story about a “relatively inexpensive” weather station developed by the Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO)—commenting that it was a sign of hope in solving Africa’s climate data poverty in the future. This weather station cost $2000 at the time of reporting. In 2024, an automatic 3D printed weather station from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) team called 3D PAW costs only around $375-475 including operational costs (through a solar power/battery system). This is a massive advancement. A major obstacle in building a reliable early warning system for the African continent has been outsmarted.

Climate Data Poverty in Africa

Weather Stations do much more than just inform whether an umbrella will be necessary today. It is often overlooked that they make up the integral forecasting infrastructure that saves countless lives, prevents massive economic damages, and protects the livelihoods of the most vulnerable demographic—by providing early warnings of extreme weather events. The availability of early warning systems allows vulnerable people to have enough time to evacuate and better prepare for emergency relief, lowering the number of casualties and deaths.

Advancements in weather forecasting in the last 50 years have contributed to the massive decrease in the number of deaths that extreme weather globally causes. However, statistics at a global scale hide within it the fact that flood-induced deaths were four times more occurrent in Africa per flood for the last 20 years; the fact that 99% of deaths caused by droughts occurred in Africa from 2006 to 2015.

Weather Stations in Africa

Although this indeed is a problem with a variety of causes, the attention of global health agencies, researchers and foreign aid projects synchronously focus on establishing early warning systems in the African continent in response (The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Biden Administration have all addressed this issue publicly in 2023). The unnerving fact is that the African continent immensely lacks land-based weather observation network coverage and is currently losing existing facilities.

According to Climate Links, 3,300 ground-based weather stations covered the African continent in 1981, but in 2023 only 800 remain functional. This is mainly due to a lack of maintenance and the high cost of those operations. The WMO reports that only 37 Radar stations cover the African continent of 1.2 billion people while 636 stations cover Europe and the United States with 1.1 billion people. Simply having an early warning 24 hours before an extreme weather event can lower damages by 30%

The first part of the answer is that weather stations are incredibly expensive tools and governmental funding is insufficient in many parts of Africa. According to the Kenyan Meteorological Department, each automatic weather station cost them $54,000, The Washington Post reports. The second part of the answer is the fact that the maintenance cost of these weather stations is also high, adding to the height of the financial obstacle. Maintenance costs include manpower for regular maintenance (cleaning the sensors), the cost of operational power, and the cost of replacing broken parts, according to Climate Links. The fact is, constructing a rich network of weather stations and maintaining it in a continent as large as Africa is expensive—especially challenging for a region facing the highest level of poverty globally.

The Good News: 3D Printed Weather Stations

3D Printed Automatic Weather Stations (PAW) is a collection of 3D printable blueprints, instruction manuals and software that experts can use to locally build a fully functioning weather station using minimal resources in even the most distant parts of the globe. Despite its astronomically cheaper construction cost– around $300-500 USD–the system can impressively measure seven meteorological indicators simultaneously at 15-minute intervals: “pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation and visible/infrared/UV light.” Building the system can take just a week, showcasing its potential for reproduction at an extremely fast pace.

3D PAW has grabbed the attention of the African early warning system space. In late March 2023, this new technological solution received a $10 million commitment as part of the expansion of the FEWS NET network from the Biden administration to establish a strong weather station network in the African continent, according to The White House. 3D PAWs have started to be deployed in Kenya and have currently installed 26 working weather stations at the time of reporting.

Now, the rigidity of the 3D-printed weather stations needs examination and the problem of maintaining a larger network of 3D PAWS is still something that needs a solution. However, it is undeniable that the cost-of-production problem now has an attractive solution. It is an exciting time.

The Conclusion

Working, reproducible and affordable, 3D printed weather stations are just one piece of the puzzle, but also a part of a new wave of innovations—such as AI analysis models—transform the weather forecasting game to be more affordable. The problem is still far from being solved, however, solutions are being proposed and governments and organizations globally are attentive and working together to solve the problem. The early warning issue in Africa is at a dynamic state – it is exciting to anticipate what the future may hold.

– Siwon Kim

Siwon is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Homelessness in Tajikistan  

Homelessness in Tajikistan After the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan became “one of the poorest countries” in the world. Wages shrunk and access to public services disappeared, forcing many to become independent and depend on their low income. According to Michal Kruzliak, the Development Manager of Habitat for Humanity, living standards worsened as internal wars and economic decline led to financial shortages, resulting in poor house maintenance. As a result, homelessness and Tajikistan has been a challenge. 

Additionally, civil wars affected the speed of housebuilding, leaving many stranded on the streets. For those who did have access to a home, warmth and comfort were usually absent as huge families had to live in small dwellings and human beings had no choice but to sit upon hard, cold brick and dirt. Even though the economy was beginning to improve, natural disasters like earthquakes quickly reversed the progress this country had made as they damaged more and more houses and left many homeless, according to Habitat for Humanity. As of 2023, 21.2% of the population in Tajikistan remains in poverty, which is almost 1.25 million people.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that has helped countries worldwide including Tajikistan. Since 1999, this organization has been aiming to end homelessness in Tajikistan by building and repairing houses and assisting more than 7,800 families with finding a home.

Earthquakes have always been a constant problem in Tajikistan. The power of this natural disaster is so strong that it destroys the windows and doors of people’s homes, many of which still have not been fixed. With Habitat for Humanity’s help, many people were given loans to build safer buildings and receive training on how to make their structures more stable, allowing families to better withstand earthquakes and other harsh conditions, according to its Country Profile.

Momajon and Karim completely rebuilt their house with the help of Habitat for Humanity. Typically, housebuilding was an extremely long and complicated process: one would have to wait years before constructing another wall due to the rising prices and declining wages. However, these individuals successfully built their houses from scratch, sharing their newly prized possessions with the rest of their family members through low-interest loans from banks and insurance provided by Habitat Tajikistan. The help they received from the organization did not solely help the process of house building but also provided them with a comfortable life.

UNICEF

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is another organization that has helped tackle the health challenges in Tajikistan. Especially for small children, undernutrition has been a significant problem even to this day. According to UNICEF, “As many as 21 percent of children under five are stunted (have chronic malnutrition), including 6 percent who are severely stunted.”

To aid this issue, UNICEF has made investments in care facilities and hospitals, bringing them medicine, equipment and instructions on how to better help the Tajikistan community. Instead of death being the only option for families to face, the people of Tajikistan now have a form of hope to come to after many fall ill due to malnutrition. To further aid families with younger children and infants, this organization also promotes child care through maternal and child services such as increasing child feeding practices in hospitals and giving out more necessary items to household parents. Additionally, because of this organization’s help, 1.4 million children were able to improve on the status of their health, such as with diseases like polio.

Shelter for Life

Shelter for Life (SFL) is an international development organization that is working to provide humanitarian assistance to developing countries, especially through shared local involvement. Specifically in Tajikistan, there was many harsh weather conditions like flooding that hurt property security for many families, leading to a deterioration of many homes. To address the issue of homelessness in Tajikistan and the destruction caused by natural disasters, SFL created innumerable amounts of shelters and latrines and even created a school building as a form of shelter. Additionally, because of the low funding in Tajikistan, the quality of the houses are poor, allowing for a greater chance of destruction when natural disasters like earthquakes hit. Even though this organization cannot directly stop an earthquake, it can and did implement preparedness training to allow many to better recover from the trauma from earthquakes, allowing the effect of homelessness to take a lesser toll. 

There is Hope

As seen through the above organizations, much work has been done to address homelessness in Tajikistan. Though problems of malnutrition, health care, lack of shelter and more may continue, these organizations are making a significant difference.

– Linda Yoonseo Lee

Linda is based in Phoenix, AZ, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Solution in Sight for Drought in the Horn of Africa

Drought in AfricaThe Horn of Africa, encompassing Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Sudan and Uganda, has been experiencing the most severe drought in decades. This crisis has directly and indirectly impacted millions. The death toll in Somalia alone reached a staggering 43,000 in 2022. However, the accurate scale of the devastation caused by the drought in the Horn of Africa will only become clear once we have the total count of deaths from the other affected countries.

Current Situation

In the past three years, the region has been grappling with a severe lack of precipitation, with some areas receiving minimal to no rainfall. This prolonged drought has had devastating consequences, particularly for the communities whose livelihoods depend on livestock and the rain. Approximately 10 million animals have perished due to drought, resulting in displacement for millions of herders who are forced to flee their homes for areas where water is available and seek humanitarian assistance.

The drought-related food insecurity has pushed them to the brink, where they face hunger, malnutrition, starvation and even death. Furthermore, the drought has increased transportation costs and food prices, exacerbating the situation and plunging more individuals into poverty. These dire conditions have also heightened the risk of conflicts in the region.

Good News

Recurrent droughts have led to collaborative efforts between governments and aid agencies to explore long-term sustainable solutions. These efforts have yielded promising results, with numerous studies revealing substantial regional underground water reserves. This finding offers hope in this crisis, as these reserves have the potential to sustain millions of people for an extended period, reducing their dependency on rainwater and mitigating the effects of drought and other such phenomena.

Project – Africa Groundwater Access Facility

Implementing a cross-border initiative presents challenges and opportunities of paramount significance to the region. Essential to this project is the necessitated exchange of knowledge and comprehensive research across participating nations. The primary objectives of this strategic plan are as follows:

  1. Active engagement of local communities to instill a sense of ownership and commitment to the project.
  2. Rigorous identification of already known drought hotspots for targeted intervention.
  3. Execute well drilling and establish deep underground bores near these identified hotspots for long-term water scarcity mitigation.

Other Solutions – Land Restoration

Certain countries, like Burkina Faso, are implementing nature-based solutions to challenges such as drought and flooding. These strategies involve tree planting, utilizing innovative agricultural practices and integrating agriculture, farming, fruit crops and livestock pastors within a single area. This holistic approach, which is cost-effective and sustainable, has the potential to not only help millions of people but also save billions of hectares of land in low-income countries in the years to come.

Final Remark

Approximately 1.84 billion people worldwide are impacted by drought, with 85% residing in low-income countries. According to estimates, drought will displace 700 million in the next decade and affect one in every four children. Therefore, the urgency of finding sustainable solutions to reduce the effects of drought cannot be overstated. 

– Maria Waleed

Maria is based in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Dreamwater Providing Drinking Water in Bangladesh

DreamwaterDreamwater Enterprises LTD is a venture under Footsteps Bangladesh that provides Bangladeshi civilians with quality drinking water at an affordable price. Through the construction of water plants, portable water filters and low-cost household filters, Dreamwater has converted more than 4,50,000 liters of flood water into drinking water.

Bangladesh’s Water Crisis

Bangladesh, with a population of 171 million, faces a severe water crisis. More than 18% of its population lives below the poverty line and more than 40% lack access to safe water. This lack of access to clean water sources contributes to the prevalence of water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, dengue fever and tuberculosis. One of the most pressing issues is water contamination. Bangladesh has the highest rate of arsenic-contaminated water in the world, primarily due to natural geological sources polluting groundwater. The presence of arsenic in drinking water poses serious health risks, including skin lesions, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and developmental effects.

Furthermore, the country faces significant challenges due to high salinity levels in its water. This problem is exacerbated by a decrease in the Ganges River’s upstream flow, which has led to increased salinity intrusion from the Bay of Bengal. High salinity not only makes drinking water unsafe but also affects agriculture, as saline water can damage crops and reduce agricultural productivity. This, in turn, threatens food security and the livelihoods of farmers, who make up a significant portion of the population.

Bangladesh’s frequent and severe flooding compounds the water crisis. Flooding can contaminate freshwater sources with pollutants and pathogens, further reducing the availability of safe drinking water. During the monsoon season, the risk of water-borne diseases increases as floodwaters spread contaminants over large areas.

Dreamwater’s Work

Dreamwater’s innovations in water filtration have enabled it to take water from floods and convert it into safe drinking water. The filters take flood water and eliminate odor, enhance taste and remove potential toxins. Its portable water filters can be carried anywhere to convert any water into drinking water. The hand-powered version of the filter allows those in areas without electricity to have access to clean drinking water.

Dreamwater has created centralized water plants that can filter water for entire houses, apartment buildings, factories and other large-scale facilities. This creates safe tap water for drinking and bathing, helping eliminate the spread of waterborne disease in highly populated areas.

Dreamwater filters can convert more than 75 liters of water an hour and last more than 15,000 liters before needing replacement. They are priced at 20,000 BDT, which is around $170, making them affordable for low-income communities throughout the country.

Final Remark

With Dreamwater’s filters, areas in Bangladesh that have been ravished by flooding have an ensured source of clean drinking water at an affordable price. These filters help communities throughout Bangladesh save money and avoid disease, helping fight the country’s poverty and illness issues.

– Nicolas Mezzaucella

Nicolas is based in New Rochelle, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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SISRI: Preparing Island Nations for Natural Disaster Response

SISRI: Preparing Island Nations for Natural Disaster ResponseThe Small Island States Resilience Initiative (SISRI), funded by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery and the World Bank, seeks to decrease the effects of natural disasters on small island nations, which are particularly vulnerable to such events. Natural disasters significantly contribute to global poverty. Preventionweb notes that impoverished individuals tend to live in hazard-prone areas and lack the resources to invest in measures that reduce risks. Consequently, people in these areas often lack adequate insurance and social protection, meaning their limited assets are usually spent trying to recover from the last natural disaster.

Global Impact of Natural Disasters on Poverty

Preventionweb reports that of the approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide at risk of or exposed to flooding, 89% reside in low to middle-income countries. Drought is one of the most severe causes of poverty globally, particularly in small island nations. Other significant risks include the previously mentioned flooding and tropical storms. These are among the deadliest and most severe natural disasters, posing the greatest threat and highest risk of poverty.

Loss of life is the primary consequence of these  ongoing issues, but other risks include injuries, home damage, loss of livelihood, displacement, health implications and food insecurity, among others. The Small Island States Resilience Initiative addresses these challenges. This initiative responds to calls from small islands for more support in mitigating climate change and natural disaster risks that significantly affect their populations, assets, ecosystems and economies.

Goals and Strategies of SISRI

The primary goal of the SISRI is to alleviate the risks and reduce the burdens that natural disasters often impose. The project focuses on protecting coastal areas, establishing safety nets for citizens and providing expert assistance in assessing flood and landslide risks. SISRI also supports these nations in constructing safer infrastructure. Additionally, it fosters a global community where island practitioners can share and access worldwide knowledge on risk management.

Small island states are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. For instance, countries experiencing the highest losses from these disasters include small island nations, which account for more than 60% of such cases. These losses can represent up to 9% of a small island nation’s GDP. Moreover, in the last 50 years, Pacific island nations have incurred more than $3 billion in damages from natural disasters. Despite these ongoing challenges, initiatives like the Small Island States Resilience Initiative, coupled with external support, can significantly impact these regions.

Implementation and Achievements of SISRI

SISRI is enhancing the resilience of small island nations by building larger pipelines for investments that can withstand climate change impacts. This initiative focuses on increasing these areas’ capacity to adapt to extreme weather events. There are three main goals SISRI aims to achieve: helping small island nations document climate finance assistance, increasing the scale and efficiency of investments and upscaling and consolidating support to shift from fragmented smaller projects to broader national initiatives that deliver more significant results.

SISRI leverages the expertise of a broader team from GFDRR and the World Bank to provide technical and operational advice. These experts address project bottlenecks and launch new investments that enhance flood and landslide risk assessments, develop safer infrastructure and strengthen social and financial safety nets. For example, in Jamaica, SISRI is protecting vulnerable coastal zones by integrating existing coastal defenses, such as seawalls and mangroves.

Using a practitioner network, SISRI connects practitioners to share knowledge and experience, enhancing resilience on small islands. Several meetings with support groups have already occurred, including the 2018 Understanding Risk Forum in Mexico City and the 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Cancun. These gatherings aim to better educate small island nations on optimal risk management strategies for natural disasters.

Through SISRI, the World Bank aims to enhance enabling environments and stakeholder capacity and to prepare proposals, projects and pipelines. While this initiative significantly supports small island nations in combating poverty and recovering from natural disasters, which often devastate economies and lives, more efforts are necessary to ensure these communities can recover and thrive after such events.

Looking Ahead

Currently, SISRI operates in East Asia, the Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa, assisting about 37 countries. The Initiative plays a vital role in enhancing the resilience of vulnerable island nations against natural disasters. By focusing on protecting coastal areas, improving infrastructure and providing technical assistance, SISRI aims to mitigate the severe impacts of these events. Continued support and investment in these ongoing initiatives could safeguard communities and promote sustainable recovery and development.

– Lachlan Wellington

Lachlan is based in Fareham, Hampshire, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

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