The Facts
Tanzania's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Thursday that at least 155 people have been killed and more than 200K people affected after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides in the East African country.
Majaliwa told parliament that El Niño — a naturally occurring climate pattern — had exacerbated the current rainy season and "caused significant damage," including the destruction of roads, bridges, and railways.
The Spin
Narrative A
This disaster, which affects the whole of East Africa, results from a fatal combination of different factors. The effects of environmental destruction, deforestation, and unsustainable agriculture are amplified by climate change, which disrupts the climate system and exacerbates natural phenomena such as El Niño. Tanzania is taking the necessary measures to overcome the challenges, but industrialized countries must do their part and finally take global climate protection seriously.
Narrative B
These are not the first torrential rains to hit East Africa in recent times, and although climate change is a significant factor, this latest disaster is primarily home-grown. Environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure, and poor drainage systems are major contributors to the devastating effects of the El Niño-triggered heavy rains. Climate change is a fact, and East African countries need to address this reality to reduce or prevent such flooding.
