Growing Earth Gullies Pose Risks to African Cities Amid Urbanization

Speedy Summary

• Overview: Giant trenches called gullies are expanding across cities in Africa, swallowing homes, businesses, and displacing people. It is a growing urban hazard linked to inadequate drainage systems in areas with sandy soils and rapid urbanization.
• Scale of Impact: researchers estimate that over the next decade, hundreds of thousands could face displacement.In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone,nearly 200,000 people have already been displaced between 2004-2023 due to gully expansion.
• Key Findings:

– A study documented nearly 3,000 gullies across 26 African cities using satellite imagery; only ~46 were known before the 1950s – demonstrating links to urbanization trends.
– In kinshasa (DRC), more than one-third of all gullies recorded resulted from inadequate runoff management on roads during heavy rains.

• Human Cost: Gullies have caused fatalities-40 deaths in Kinshasa occurred overnight due to a collapsing gully. Families exposed frequently enough lack safer housing alternatives or resources for mitigation.
• Solutions Proposed:

– Early intervention with improved drainage systems has been cited as effective but requires ample funding/resources now lacking.
– involving affected communities and environmental experts could help develop cost-effective strategies before disaster strikes further.

Images Included from Source:

1. Aerial view showing an active gully threatening homes in Kamonia (DRC).
2. A collapsed house near mont Ngafula district in Kinshasa where children died from sudden collapses caused by nearby trench widening.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The situation unfolding due to expanding gullies across African cities highlights critical lessons for India as it grapples with similar challenges stemming from urbanization pressures and extreme climate events like monsoons.Rapid unplanned growth without lasting infrastructure intensifies vulnerabilities,notably for populations living near natural water channels or poorly designed drainage networks.

From a neutral standpoint:

1. India’s ongoing efforts toward smart city programs must prioritize natural resource management like soil stability and flood resilience alongside its urban planning frameworks – avoiding pitfalls seen elsewhere globally such as those harming parts DRC/Kamonia through lax lead-time protections whose economic strain re-affirms preventative maintenance approach imminently sustainably optimx