Adapting to climate change: Withstanding floods in Western Zambia
The Western Province of Zambia is bisected by the Zambezi flood plain, known
locally as the Barotse Plains. The plains flood to a greater or lesser extent
every year, but in early 2007 the flood was exceptionally high and came earlier
than usual.
In recent decades, the way of life of the local Lozi people has changed dramatically,
with fewer and fewer households retreating to the uplands during the annual flood. Livelihoods have also become
increasingly dependent on a successful agriculture cycle, which has been
affected by the changing climate. The result is that the Lozi are
increasingly vulnerable, as was demonstrated during this year's floods, when approximately 3,000
households were severely affected and an estimated 90% of crops in the plains
were lost.
DFID’s partner agency,
Concern Worldwide, responded to this year's disaster by
concentrating its efforts on helping the two most affected districts in the
region, Senanga and Mongu. Concern's help came in two phases: first, the voluntary evacuation of 35 households that were stranded in the
plains and the distribution of cash grants to 1,741 severely affected
households; followed by a focus on the recovery of livelihoods, through
the provision of essential tools, such as fishing nets.
Although the immediate crisis has now passed, the Western Province will continue
to be at risk from the effects of climate change unless wider measures are
taken. For this reason, DFID and its partners are increasingly working to
lessen the impact of the annual flooding. Key activities on this front include
promoting the growing of less vulnerable crops, and supplying irrigation
equipment. Such activities empower communities and enhance their capacity to
cope with disaster; only by strengthening local people in this way can the
dangers of climate change be averted.
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Last updated 23 November 2007
