Dangerous Habitats

Drought:

The most prolonged and widespread droughts occurred in 1973 and 1984, when almost all African countries were affected, and in 1992, when all southern African countries experienced extreme food shortages. In 1973 alone, drought killed 100,000 people in the Sahel.

 Flooding:

In 1998 many parts of East Africa experienced record rainfall (up to ten times the usual amount) and disastrous flooding. In Uganda alone more than 10,000 people were affected, directly or as a result of ensuing cholera epidemics; 40 percent of the main roads were destroyed and the country became hit Madagascar affecting more than half a million people, making them homeless or in need of emergency  food, shelter and drinking water. Up to 75 percent of the crops were destroyed, 20 people died and 1,200 were injured (4).

Volcanic Activity:

In January 2002 Nyiragongo erupted affecting most inhabitants of Goma (350,000), and killing 147 and displacing 30,000 (5).

Earthquakes:

In December 1999 an earthquake hit northwest Algeria, measuring 5.2 to 5.5 on the Richter scale, killing 22 people and hospitalizing

49. Three thousand houses were destroyed and 5,000 families (25,000 people) were affected (6).