“We think the only way to put an end to such catastrophe in the future is to demolish and force people out of these risky and vulnerable zones,” said Fritz Ntone Ntone, the government delegate to the Douala city council.
Experts say several factors, including climate change, deforestation, rapid population growth and poor town planning, are exacerbating the effects of the rainy season, making the current flood among the most destructive in the town’s history.
With over 3 million residents, Douala is one of Cameroon’s most densely populated cities. Flooding is not uncommon in the area, but the scale of the devastation wrought by this latest flooding is unprecedented, said Ntone.
Many of the affected people say they have lost everything: their crops, livestock, homes and businesses. In some parts of flooded area, only the tops of houses and trees can be seen emerging from the water.
“This is one of the worst floods we have had in Douala, a clear sign that climate change is on our doorsteps,” said Samuel Nguiffo, executive director of the Center for Environment Development (CED), a non-governmental organization focused on the environment and land rights.
Environmental experts say natural disasters in Cameroon continue to hit communities hard but local governments lack the ability and means to manage disaster risks adequately.
Cameroon’s government needs to give local authorities more autonomy over disaster risk reduction and development practices to improve the situation, they say.
Cameroon recently announced the launch of a new meteorological and hydrological services network, which authorities hope will help the country combat the effects of climate change by providing governments with accurate, real-time weather information.
Thomson Reuters Foundation
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