Burundi Eco – A response that meets the challenges?

Benjamin Kuriyo, Publication Director

The effects of the El Niño climatic phenomenon characterized by abnormally high temperatures and severe bad weather are already perceptible. A fortiori, the government has just declared a climate emergency and is calling for international aid to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Burundi is experiencing the effects of climate change. These manifest themselves through natural disasters including floods, torrential rains, violent winds or the extension of the dry season depending on the region. High intensity disasters repeatedly weaken homes and socio-economic infrastructures and expose the population to absolute precariousness. The victims find themselves in a situation of destitution overnight because they have lost their homes and their means of subsistence. They are unable to meet basic needs.

Floods and landslides are the cause of internal population displacement. Disasters disproportionately affect women and children living in the hills of Burundi. Currently, the authorities count more than 80,000 internally displaced people and more than 300,000 people in need of humanitarian aid between September 2023 and April 2024.

Paradoxically, the countries of the South are bearing the brunt of the devastating consequences of climate change even though they contribute almost nothing to greenhouse gas emissions. Burundi is ranked among the 20 countries most vulnerable to climate change globally. The risks associated with climate change pose an ongoing threat to all sectors of the country. The infrastructure sector is hard hit with annual losses estimated at USD 30 million in the Imbo plain alone. To minimize damage, authorities discourage uncontrolled construction in high-risk areas. In fact, the slogan is not scrupulously observed.

According to the World Bank, an overwhelming majority of Burundians, or 99% of the population, do not have the adaptation capacity necessary to resist the effects of climate change. Which means that the government should mobilize substantial resources to deal with natural disasters. Disaster prevention and management platforms have been set up at the decentralized level, but these structures will still need to benefit from financial support to carry out their mission.

Despite the creation of the Special Disaster Risk Reduction Fund, the gap between resources and needs remains significant. The fund for disaster prevention and management has so far been supplied by State budgetary allocations to the tune of 600 million FBu. This amount remains insufficient to mitigate the effects of climate change. In the immediate future, the operationalization of early warning systems is essential to preserve the lives of populations. Certainly, the government declares a climate emergency, but it remains to be seen whether the response will be proportional to the scale of the disasters which are attacking the country on all levels.