Is Africa ready for a stronger El Niño?

0:00Hela, amchal's gitanga inlegos with focus on Africa. Jelunas, if you live in eastern or southern Africa, you might have already heard that there is a huge El Niño weather event approaching. Expat say it could be the strongest one seen in more than 70 years, warning of intensifying drought, extreme heat and flooding. How prepared are countries and communities? Will we prepare enough for the El Niño? No, there would be gaps that will show up and in these gaps we will see either big losses in our farmlands or livestock or human beings dying or drowning being swept off. And we hear from a macro photographer using his images to get people to look closer and care about tiny insects they often see as a nuisance. I know us can be very, very, very named but they are also pollinators. They are pollinators that are essential to our survival.

1:01Most people don't know, people just still want to just use less in the environment. They are actually bees with anger issues. They do almost the same thing that bees do to our mother. They pollinate as much as bees do. It's Thursday, September 3rd. You may have seen videos online. Homes and villages being swept by flood waters are the border of Nepal and China. The disaster last week was caused by a glacier collapse and it has led to the deaths of more than 1000 people and many more are still missing. Among those caught in the chaos was Kenyan travel influencer Diana Daisy, who found herself stranded in the floods. She spoke to focus on Africa's Wahiga Moura about the terrifying experience.

2:20The village is around 3500 meters above the sea level. So the more I was getting high, I became sick, I could feel dizzy. And because of that, now that made me left. Did I know that? Me leaving, the incidence was happening. So all we got was what would happen to me. How safe do you feel at the moment? I would say that the safety is assured of 100%. And as you all know that Nepal is 75% of mountains and hills. And these causes eat to experience a lot of landslides because of the rains. So the safety is not assured. And also as you can see, because of the mountains also we have a lot of waterfalls on the roads. So I'm unable also to travel from where I am going to Kathmandu because I don't know what I might experience on the roads. You're in a village right now. What are the people there saying and the people you've met over the last two days? Are there reflections and their connection to what happened 20 kilometers from you? Some of them have lost their loved ones. The bad parts is like people are grieving. I'll say that.

3:23And also a lot of properties have been damaged. And also it's affecting the economy because the people who live there, they get their things like the vegetables, the food from the nearest markets. They are supposed to be taken there. So I can only imagine what they are depending on. The damages have been done. The cars cannot move from one place to another, especially to that section. How is the government communicating? What are they saying? The prime minister of Nepal, he sent a message like the images after the incident, the flash floods happened. He told the people to take care of themselves. The army also was coming to take people, the ones who are starting the floods also and fly them over. Most of the people like I can see from online, they are in Kathmandu and they are also going there for treatment. My colleague, Wahegam Aura, there in conversation with Diana Daisy. Her story is a reminder of just how quickly extreme weather can turn our lives upside down. The UN says that the world has entered a danger zone of extreme weather. As the effects of El Niño begin to be felt across the globe.

4:29The World Meteorological Organization says the phenomenon could be the strongest in more than 70 years, lasting until at least February 2027. This forecast shows an exceptionally high likelihood of nearly 100% that El Niño will persist through to February 2027. This is the first time that we expressed such a degree of certainty. The VAMO update shows that El Niño has strengthened and will continue as a very strong event, even exceptionally strong. That's Celeste Saulo, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization. The warning signs are growing closer to home. UNICEF, the agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide, says more than 162 million children, or over two thirds of all children in eastern and southern Africa, are living in areas exposed to the effects of the expected El Niño rains.

5:34So what could this mean for communities across Africa? I spoke to Anthony Mosheri, Head of Emergency Response at the Kenya Red Cross. El Niño is a phenomenon that comes across and causes increase in temperature, and at the same time when this happens, then it ends up causing disruption in the weather patterns. So depending from either side of the ocean where the wind is pushing, then you would get more than normal average rainfall, or it would end up with a longer dry spell. This current El Niño has come up with a bit of much more temperature increase, at the same time now the forecast is that there would be above normal average rainfall. So I'm wondering, Anthony, because we keep hearing about climate change a lot, and temperatures going up around the world, and what we should do to stop it and all of that, is this a direct consequence of climate change? Could you explain to us and make the connection there for us?

6:39Well, no, it's not a direct consequence of climate change. El Niño phenomenon is occur between the year 1997 and right now we've had like six episodes of El Niño. Now depending with the magnitude and strength, we only kind of remember the bigger ones, and the 97 was made one of those major ones. But in between that period and now, quote unquote, what people are calling now a mega, which scientifically there is nothing mega, it's just an El Niño phenomenon going to happen. It's a weather pattern that shows up, so with or without climate change into the topic, El Niño phenomenon will continue happening. I see, the thing is, and you've probably seen these predictions, and one of the most concerning texts that I've read recently is this warning by UNICEF, and they say that over 162 million children, that's over two thirds of all the children in eastern South Africa, are living in areas that are exposed to the impact of the expected El Niño rains.

7:41Let's explain to us that figure and what impact it might cause, the rains might cause in the region. So it is clear that with the focus, there's going to be widespread and enhanced rainfall leading to flood risk, nearly covering the entire region. We talk about a country like Kenya, 46 out of 47 counties, literally it's 97 to 98% of the country, and when you talk about widespread and enhanced rainfall covering all these counties, then what you're saying is, each area will just have to deal with the consequence or whatever flood risk shows up. And to relate to the UNICEF a lot, it's that whereas entire populations will be at a flood risk, then children would bear more suffering, given the vulnerability that comes with it, of course, edge and ability not just to fight for self, if it's having to run away, then yes, children become more vulnerable.

8:41But the other conversation around this also is the positive side, whereas there will be an enhanced rainfall for farmers, this would be something good because of availability of groundwater and this is good for a green catch up performance. It could increase ability for diverse crops to be generated and production to increase, but as humans of course, then the outlook becomes also the negatives and this is where players agencies, the government and others come in, when you look at when the soil gets dry, the soil gets waterlogged and there's no more perspiration, water overflows, so this overflow of water and be it as it may comes into contact with blocked drainage and the lakes causing flooding, then that becomes a big disaster to people. And that's really the main concern because if you look at most African cities, a good number of them have been prone to flooding recently. Speaking from Kenya, we've seen it in Nairobi and now I'm hearing you say that up to 97% of Kenya will be at risk of this increased rainfall, so I'm just wondering whether countries in the region, not just Kenya, are prepared for this or if they can even be prepared for this.

9:51Will we prepare enough for the looming El Nino? No, there would be gaps that will show up and in these gaps we will see either big losses in our farmlands or livestock or human beings dying or drowning being swept off. If it is a question about planning on lack of, then you could have planned but who has planned for this kind of magnitude over flood water. If the planners missed it in their estimation at any one point, flood waters could rise above sea, could unquote two meters or three meters in the cities, then clearly we're going to have a problem. We do hear when there's a lot of rain for around, we hear things like people should move to higher grounds, but that's all you are told to do. Surely it's not that easy, so I'm just wondering what more can be done to help people prepare for this because telling people to find higher ground, they may find it but where they're going to sleep, what are they going to eat, where will their children go to school, you know, questions like that.

10:53My rolling call would be to everyone in the region to be a bit selfish and by selfish I mean presale self take yourself, look out for self, don't look at it as a general agenda for everyone and you want to watch with moving before you move. If you have an ability to move from a place that has been flooded before to rent out in a place that you know, predominantly waters have never reached, this would be the season to do that. Anthony, if someone wanted to prepare for what's coming, what kind of advice would you give them and also at the same time, what do you feel authorities and governments can do. You may just come across someone being swept off and jumped to your rope and throw it at them and able to rescue. So if it's drainage is at around your compound or around your estates, just coming together and clearing these trenches will give us more lead time before water can clog up and start rising. If it's power back up would be solar lamps and the likes.

12:09These are the small things we can do at a other level for governments we've seen big contracts green out for clearing of damages expansion over flood packs and this is good. This has helped we have a lot of repairing areas where people have built and encroaching onto the rivers again moving away from this is a clear sign that you're going to be safer than someone who is on the repair and areas of rivers. We can all be safe. Many thanks to Anthony Musheri head of emergency response at the Kenya Red Cross. This is focus on Africa from the BBC World Service. Let's talk about insects. As tiny as they are they play a vital role in our ecosystems you know pollinating our plants breaking down organic matter and providing food for countless other animals and I must say humans too. Now Canadian Nigerian macro photographer Dara Ojo gets down to their level capturing these tiny creatures in remarkable detail and in the environments they call home.

13:17We caught up with him on the podcast last year and you might recall this conversation he had with my good friend and colleague Richard Kagoe. While I was touring the world I found myself in Asia China to be specific during COVID-19 and that was when I wanted to look for something to do. I missed the lockdown that we had I wanted to create a niche for myself and so I asked my friend and he was like I did thought about showing people around the world the insects that you can see in China and I was like that's interesting. Interesting and how diverse is the field when it comes to you kind of photography. In wildlife and nature in general there's huge underrepresentation of people of colour. It's wide dominated like you might imagine. Right now I think we're just about 10 black people worldwide that I know that's shoot insects. I'm not even just saying Africans you know Caribbean and black Americans all together and I have never shot in Africa before but I will get to shoot when I come to Nigeria.

14:20I am looking forward to what I will find it. So Dara eventually made it to Nigeria and he started by telling me the reasons for the visit. I lost my dad sometimes last year and I had to go back home for his funeral so in the midst of all that morning and sorrow I was like I'm here now. So I decided to spend like an extra two weeks after his funeral by going to some wild places to take photographs of insects in the end of the year. Things that I've never really noticed when I was growing up or even when I was another. So that's the beauty of macro photography. Let's you look more at your environment. Things you probably ignored before for the good 26 years of my life. I think I probably just noticed the spider webs and probably mosquitoes. You're talking about the kind of insects that are to bother you anyway when you are going about your life. So it was a beauty to see everything that I've missed while growing up even when I was another. So being able to take photographs in Nigeria was actually a life name to see that where I grew up actually has all these very cool looking creatures that support our ecosystem.

15:30And a big shout out to Lufa C Park in Lagas they opened their doors to me to be able to you know photograph for a number of days. Tell me a bit more about that experience you know going to this park in Lagas how different the environment is compared to elsewhere where you've done this work. It wasn't very very different because growing spaces everywhere in Lufa C National Park but it was gated. So there's that sense of security that you were somewhere that was you know get it and you know that everything you had was going to be safe. Whatever time I was going to arrive there sometimes I arrived at 4am in the morning there was always somebody there too. I walk around with me to find an insect or probably stay until like midnight because most of the time when you're shooting an insect you have to be in a dawn of dusk because that's when they are a camera that's when you can approach them without them running away. But if you go shoot them in the afternoon you probably have like 10% chance of having a good shot.

16:32It's a lot of commitment from what you're describing but tell me about maybe an insect or a picture that you took at this park in Nigeria that stood out for you in a certain way. When I went to Nigeria I already had a book deal so I was trying to put together a lot of content for my upcoming book. So when I got there I wanted content for Nigeria you know the way I did my book it was in different chapters of the places I've explored today is a chapter for Canada and Mexico and whatnot. So I wanted a chapter for Nigeria so I showed a mantis there I showed tabitals I showed damselfly I showed lion fly I showed a lot of spiders there was a lot of things that I could find in that small space. So I thought the most spectacular thing about me shooting there was the mantis the mantis was just absolutely gorgeous photo. I'm sure you know pre mantis it was green in color yeah it pulls right well for me I think we shot that photo like 60m in the morning because it was cooler some of the mantis fly away but this wasn't going to fly away just stay still on the flower and the cool thing was when I came back to my publisher trying to pick a cover.

17:45Was the mantis that stood out for that photo from Nigeria right now is the cover of my new book coming up but I'm just wondering where you see your work you know fitting in this entire conversation you know about conservation. I feel when people develop empathy you draw them in with those photos you know people that probably never saw what I didn't say looks like which is absolutely normal I didn't know what they look like until you know I was able to get my hands on a macro lens and I was able to look closer and be more observant. I feel those photos invite people in and it becomes inspirational a lot of people want to also pick up macro lens a lot of people want to know what they can do to conserve them do I need to plant more flowers in my backyard to you know keep promoting pollinators and a lot of people also do know that was I know was can be very very very main but they are also pollinators they are pollinators that I sent you to our survivor but most people don't know people just show what I'm doing. People just show what I just use less in the environment they are actually bees with anger issues they do almost the same thing that bees do to our mother pollinators much as bees do actually think they travel farther than bees I always call bees very bougie rich keep whereas what are the authors that ones are also they travel far they are not picky what with the plants that they pollinate they're free pest controller so instead of using chemicals when you have a higher

19:12amount of was you can actually have the free pest control in system going on in your farm or your backyard so those photos get people to see what's inside like even was that are considered meaning in a better commer see now beautiful there the structure of the face you know the ear the fur everything on the body just you know get people really fascinated and happy that my photo has been dreamed at how do you think then there are your work would inspire aspiring photographer out there in terms of just finding the space and what will work but not just for them but for a bigger mission or a greater good so to speak my work has been inspiring a lot of young people even out of Africa I've seen a few young photographers and I want to see how they can you know start this kind of photography in Africa and I feel this vast amount of opportunity in danger I live in Canada that means after the year I can't shoot insect because it's so cold and that's why I shoot snowflakes sometimes but if you leave anywhere in Africa you probably can shoot insects around the clock so I feel my work has you know motivated people different races but I wanted to also motivate people

20:24in Africa more because more black people need to tell their stories you know through their lens you also must come into it with the right intention you know if you think is a money making venture absolutely not the wrong feud for you it will eventually start to bring you income but you have to develop that passion first because you might be doing it for four or five years and not making a dime but that passion is that feel that gets you going that yeah I need to repassionate about concern insect and natural parts right so before I let you go Dara I mean last time we spoke about you travelling to the African continent tonight Gerate happened so it does seem like you can say something on this program and then you know you are down the line something happens and you actually end up doing something about it so I'm just wondering what other parts of the continent you hope to explore and document. In Africa because it's so on the explored you know when it comes to macro everybody wants to go to Central and South America and maybe Australia but nobody is really looking at Africa and I feel there's so much on tapped I would love to go to Angola I would love to go to Rwanda I love to go to Kenya even Nigeria I was only in Lagos Nigeria is so big that there's so many other places that you can visit and you know West Africa Central South

21:46even North Africa you can go to the desert and you can find a lot of scorpions scorpions are atropos they are not necessarily in the same sex so there's a lot of places I would love to go in Africa of course you need that fund then to get going but yeah I would love to return to Africa for sure but on top of my list is definitely Madagascar. Many thanks to Dara Ojo, macro photographer and conservation storyteller. And that's focus on Africa today if you'd like to give us feedback about the program or even suggest stories we should cover the best way to find us is through our email address which is focus on Africa at bbc.co.uk You can also send us a message on whatsapp the number is plus 254 791 269 243 this episode was produced by Kigantz Shumbha in Nairobi and blessing Aderoba here in Begos who was also in charge of the production our technical producer is Maxwell Oñango and the editors are Daniel Dazi and Mariam Abdala

22:47I'm Charles Gitonga and like they say here in Niger we go yeah later