Climate Change Threatens Sudan’s Rich Biodiversity
As Sudan continues to be ravaged by the effects of climate change, experts say the North African nation could become an uninhabitable desert in the next 100 years.
Effects of climate change including desertification and severe dust storms have gripped the Sudan for years, resulting in food scarcity and water shortage. With this scenario, Sudan, home to more than 40 million people is now vulnerable to famine and the likelihood of making it uninhabitable in the future is not a far-fetched reality.
Jos Lelieveld, a climate scientist, told CNN, “North Africa is already hot and is strongly increasing in temperature. At some point in this century, part of the region will become uninhabitable.”
Temperature Rising and Dust Storms
Sudan’s temperature is expected to increase significantly. By 2060, it is projected to rise between 1.1 °C and 3.1 °C.
Two thirds of Sudan’s population live in rural areas, which are projected to be the hardest hit by any temperature increases.
In addition, as a result of hotter climate and irregular rain, agricultural undertakings are affected.
A report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs revealed that 1.9 million people are already facing reduced agricultural and livestock production due poor quality of farmland and lack of access to water. And, it is expected that a whopping 3.2 million are expected to face water shortages as well.
Aside from that, the rise of temperature also resulted in the increase number of dust storms or locally known as “Haboob.” These dust storms are deadly. They move like a gigantic thick wall, carrying sand and dust, burying homes and ruining crops.
Food Insecurity is Affecting Millions of Sudanese
Climate change also put Sudan at risk of facing famine. A total of 4.6 million people in Sudan are currently facing food insecurity.
Sudan was one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change because of the issue of food security. The North African nation ranks 98th out of 113 countries on the Global Hunger Index, placing it in the top 15 most food-insecure countries in the world.
