What climate shock looks like in Burundi — and the UNICEF response
By Maryanne Murray Buechner
Climate change has been brutal for Burundi. Shifting weather patterns — the heavy rains, the high winds, the dry spells — have become increasingly unpredictable and extreme. Floodwaters have decimated communities, destroying homes and livelihoods. In the mountains, landslides are a constant threat.
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The following series of images, captured in March 2021 by photographer Karel Prinsloo, offers a closer look at what's happening on the ground, revealing the complicated nature of a continuing crisis.
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Extreme flooding and other natural disasters increase the likelihood that children will drop out of school. In Burundi, parents often can't afford the fees or may need their children to work to help support the family.
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In December 2019, a series of landslides — triggered by heavy rainfall coupled with deforestation — devastated parts of northern Burundi. Cascading mud overtook the mountain village of Gisheke, toppling over 350 homes, and 37 people died, including ten whose bodies were never found.
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