Experts have issued a stark warning that the ongoing climate crisis in Africa may result in an additional 150 million people falling into poverty by 2050. Speaking at a leadership forum in Dakar focused on climate change solutions, Magda Robalo Silva, a representative from the Institute for Global Health and Development and former health minister of Guinea Bissau, highlighted the severe impact of increasing floods and persistent droughts. These environmental challenges are displacing large populations from their agricultural lands, thereby severely restricting their access to nutritious food and threatening their livelihoods.
“This situation is resulting in increased rates of malnutrition and the spread of infectious diseases across many African countries. Without immediate action, we risk pushing an additional 150 million individuals into poverty by 2050,” Silva stated emphatically, underscoring the urgency of the crisis.
The forum, hosted by Gallen Africa, a pan-African health organization dedicated to addressing health issues across the continent, brought together over 100 youth representatives from 16 African nations. Awa Marie Seck, the former health minister of Senegal and chair of Gallen Africa, stressed that the climate crisis has evolved from an abstract concern into a significant threat to public health. She urged participants to embrace inter-generational collaboration, advocating for the use of digital platforms to foster information sharing and experience exchange among nations, which could lead to more effective solutions.
Countries across Africa, including Niger, Chad, Nigeria, Mali, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have faced devastating floods since June, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and millions more affected by the ongoing crises. As the impacts of climate change continue to escalate, the call for urgent action has never been more critical to safeguard the health and well-being of vulnerable populations across the continent.
