Near Nouveau Wacapou, a hamlet close to
Maripasoula in southern French Guiana, a massive stone dyke now blocks the
Maroni River. Known as sauts, these rapids punctuate the river’s
600-kilometer length. The Alukus, an Afro-descendant people of the region, say
the rocks form maanka shiba—a man lying across the river.
Typically submerged by silt-laden waters, the
stones are now fully exposed. French Guiana has faced a water deficit for 18
months, and 2024 is on track to become its hottest year on record, according to
Météo France, the French national meteorological service.
Skyrocketing prices and shortages
With weeks of the dry season still to come, water
levels are at historic lows. On the Maroni River, some rapids are now passable
on foot, while boats that deliver supplies to isolated communities can no
longer navigate these treacherous waters.
In Maripasoula, home to around 10,000 people,
prices for essentials have soared. “Everything has doubled or tripled,” lamented Claude, emerging from the town’s main store. “A 25-kg bag of rice costs $63,
and a gas bottle is $105—if you can find one at all.” Staples like water, eggs,
and flour are increasingly scarce.
Even the informal economy is struggling. Shops
along the Surinamese side of the river, known for their low prices, now rely on
costly air freight, passing these expenses on to customers. “Prices are now on
par with France, and fresh products are in short supply,” said Rosiane Agésilas
of the Apachi collective, which advocates for better access to goods and
services.
Public services paralyzed
The crisis is felt even more acutely in remote
villages, where larger boats can no longer operate. Smaller boats must be
unloaded and manually pulled through shallow waters, making travel arduous.
Apaï, a resident of Twenké, reports that a trip that used to take two hours now
takes up to six, with fuel costs exceeding $84 per journey.
Public services are also disrupted. Schools in
some isolated villages have shut down due to the inability to transport
students by boat. Access to healthcare has diminished; in Antecume Pata,
medical care is now limited to biweekly helicopter visits, which offer only a few
hours of consultations.
Thousands of residents lack daily access to clean
water. In Papaichton, a town of 6,000, water is rationed overnight, and some
residents face daytime shortages, forcing them to store water in
anticipation.
40,000 people affected
Emergency solutions – described as insufficient by locals – have been implemented for the most affected villages, such as the deployment of atmospheric water generators. Authorities have also announced measures to ensure students can attend school remotely. In total, nearly 40,000 residents, dependent on the Maroni and Oyapock rivers (at the border with Brazil, where students had to take helicopters to school at the start of the school year), live in this parallel reality where everything is lacking.
Averting a humanitarian crisis
Emergency measures, including atmospheric water
generators and increased air freight, have been deployed but remain inadequate.
Meanwhile, the drought, exacerbated by El Niño and climate change, is ravaging
the Amazon basin. In neighboring Brazil, the state of Amapá has declared a
state of emergency due to wildfires. Colombia has also raised alarms about the
shrinking Amazon River, which has lost over 90% of its flow in some areas.
To avert a humanitarian crisis, French Guiana’s
government initiated an emergency response plan on October 29, including an
airlift by the military to supply water, food, and fuel to isolated
communities. Freight capacities have doubled, with costs capped to prevent
price gouging.
In the Upper Maroni, the effects on prices are still awaited, and shortages continue to cause concern, particularly the shortage of gas bottles, which cannot be brought in by air. The public authorities’ response, seen as late given the severity of the drought since September, raises some hopes but is mostly met with skepticism from those who have witnessed too many unfulfilled promises. At the top of the list of disappointments is the River Road, an old project to improve access that has stalled for years.
For now, residents like those in Maripasoula are
left watching the river levels, praying for the rainy season to bring
relief.
—–
The future of French Guiana’s climate
By 2100, rainfall in French Guiana is projected to decrease by 15–25%, especially during the dry season. This could transform parts of the Amazon rainforest into savannas.
– Extreme weather events, such as torrential
rains causing floods, will become more frequent. Rising sea levels will worsen
coastal erosion.
– Temperatures are expected to rise by 1.5°C to
4°C, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses, particularly during “hot
nights” when temperatures remain above 26°C.
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Publish date : 2024-11-17 22:05:00
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