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[[At a U.N. Security Council meeting last month, speakers urged member states to do more to counter the security threat posed by climate change. Meanwhile, in Chad, conflicts between farmers and herders from the Fulani ethnic group are flaring as warming temperatures further reduce already scarce water and useable land. Henry Wilkins reports from N'Djamena, Chad.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptCHAD FULANI CLIMATE CHANGE (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Climate-Caused Conflicts Flare Among Chad's Fulani People
TEASER: Experts say insecurity caused by climate change and fights over resources like water and land are likely to get worse
PUBLISHED: 07/10/2023 at 9:37 pm
BYLINE: Henry Wilkins
DATELINE: N’Djamena, Chad
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Wilkins
VIDEO EDITOR: Henry Wilkins
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Zoom
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO_X_
TRT: 2:57
VID APPROVED BY: mia
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[At a U.N. Security Council meeting last month, speakers urged member states to do more to counter the security threat posed by climate change. Meanwhile, in Chad, conflicts between farmers and herders from the Fulani ethnic group are flaring as warming temperatures further reduce already scarce water and useable land. Henry Wilkins reports from N'Djamena, Chad.]]
((VIDEO-VOA: CHAD COUNTRSIDE DRONE - various, CHAD FARMERS - various, MAHAMAT - various))
((NARRATOR))
In the countryside outside Chad’s capital, N'Djamena, farmers and herders say they have noticed the weather change in recent years. It is becoming more difficult to farm, with less rainfall and hotter temperatures.
The U.N. says usable land for farmers and herders is diminishing, a situation that intensifies conflict between the groups.
Farmers like Abdelaziz Mahamat say it has become necessary to build nearly two-meter-high fences to protect his crops from cattle.
((Abdelaziz Mahamat, Farmer, (in Arabic, ?? secs))
“We built the fences to stop thieves and idling animals from entering the farm. Mostly, the biggest challenge includes the presence of idling cattle… The herders are armed with knives and weapons.”
((For radio: He says they built the fences to stop thieves and idling animals from
entering the farm, particularly idling cattle. He adds that the cattle herders are sometimes armed with knives and other weapons.))
((VIDEO-VOA: MAHAMAT - various, FULANI HERDERS - various))
((NARRATOR))
Experts say that herder and farmer disputes, made worse by climate change, have been linked to much of the insecurity in the Sahel in recent years.
Yet many on both sides seem unaware of the effects climate change is having on their lives and instead look to God for solutions.
((Haroun Bechara, Herder Community Leader (in Arabic, ?? secs)))
“I don't know exactly what’s causing the problems with the weather here. We need rain for sure. Yes, we pray to God every day and ask Him for water. That's all we can do.”
((For radio: He says they don’t know what’s causing the problems with the weather, but they definitely need rain. He says the community prays to God every day and asks Him for water. That’s all they can do.))
((VIDEO-VOA: FULANI HERDERS - various))
((NARRATOR))
In recent years, the U.N. Security Council has begun to discuss how it can address climate change in the context of promoting stability.
Janani Vivekananda, head of program for Climate Diplomacy and Security at Adelphi, a Berlin-based consultancy, points out the council has yet to adopt a resolution outlining how it will deal with the problem.
Recently, the Malian government asked the U.N. peacekeeping mission there to leave, after it failed to reduce violence believed to be caused in part by global warming.
((Janani Vivekananda, Adelphi (in English, 23secs))) ((Zoom))
“I think Mali is, unfortunately, an excellent example of how peacekeeping and stabilization forces have just not been fit for purpose, because of the ways in which climate change affects the conflict, understanding those root causes of the conflict, climate change has been undermining already stressed livelihoods.”
((VIDEO-VOA: FULANI HERDERS - various, CHAD LANDSCAPES - various, FARMERS - various))
Experts say insecurity caused by climate change and fights over resources like water and land are likely to get worse.
((For radio: Florian Krampe is with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute))
((Florian Krampe, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (in English, 20 secs))) ((Zoom))
“We have a very clear picture that a lot of security-related dynamics like riots, communal violence are linked to the impacts of climate change. They are part of the story.”
((VIDEO-VOA: FULANI HERDERS - various, CHAD LANDSCAPES - various, FARMERS - various))
((NARRATOR))
He went on to add, “This is a today problem… and it’s a problem that’s going to be increasingly severe.”
((Henry Wilkins, for VOA News, N’Djamena, Chad))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
N’Djamena, Chad
Embargo DateJuly 10, 2023 19:19 EDT
Byline
Henry Wilkins, for VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
