Floods Delay School Year in Niger as Crisis Deepens

Niger has postponed the start of the new school year by nearly a month due to heavy rainfall and severe flooding, according to the military government. Initially set for 2 October, the academic year will now begin on 28 October as authorities work to manage the crisis. Many schools across the country have been damaged by the floods or are being used as temporary shelters for displaced families. In the central-southern city of Maradi, one of the worst-hit areas, around 100 tents have been erected at schools to accommodate flood victims. Niger has been battered by relentless downpours, which have claimed over 300 lives through drowning or building collapses, with the interior ministry reporting widespread destruction. According to the International Rescue Committee, over 800,000 people have been affected by the floods in the country.

This extreme weather is part of a broader pattern of climate-related disasters affecting the Sahel region of West Africa, including Niger, Mali, and Nigeria, which are experiencing some of the worst floods in 30 years. Alongside flooding, Niger has also been grappling with droughts and crop failures in recent years, worsening food security and economic hardship. Climate change has been identified as a driving factor behind the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region, with both floods and droughts becoming more severe. In response to the crisis, Niger’s military government has made 9,700 tonnes of grain available to those in need, while assuring citizens that the "situation is under control."

Amid the crisis, concerns are also growing over the damage to historic and cultural sites. In Zinder, the collapse of a 19th-century mosque made from wood and straw is a stark reminder of the fragile state of many of Niger's cultural landmarks. There is also fear that the historic centre in the northern city of Agadez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a key cultural treasure, has suffered significant damage. The flooding has not only caused loss of life and property but has also raised alarm over the long-term impact on Niger’s cultural heritage, education system, and overall development.