No Respite for Laborers and Street Vendors as Deadly Heat Wave in Mali Exacerbates Challenges

Bamako, Mali — Mali is currently experiencing an unprecedented heat wave, with temperatures in the capital city of Bamako soaring to 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit), presenting severe challenges for laborers and street vendors who must endure the scorching heat.

This extreme weather crisis, which began in late March during the Islamic month of Ramadan, has already been linked to a surge in deaths, with local hospitals reporting alarming figures.

Gabriel-Touré Hospital in Bamako disclosed that 102 deaths occurred in just the first four days of April, a significant increase from the 130 deaths recorded for the entire month last year.

Cheikh A Traoré, Mali’s general director for health, noted a marked increase in elderly fatalities during this period, although specific statistics are currently unavailable due to restrictions imposed by the country's military rulers.

Mali has been plagued by political instability, marked by two coups since 2020, and is also battling a worsening insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

This political turmoil, combined with ongoing economic challenges, has intensified the impacts of the heat wave.

Rolling power cuts and fuel shortages, exacerbated by departing foreign investors, have forced many businesses to close, further straining the country's economy.

The heat wave's toll on public health is profound, particularly for vulnerable populations. The World Food Program has highlighted that 1 million children under the age of five in Mali are at risk of acute malnutrition due to protracted violence and restricted access to humanitarian aid.

Professor Boubacar Togo from Gabriel-Touré Hospital reported an unusual spike in child meningitis cases and other heat-related illnesses.

In response to the harsh conditions, Mali’s military rulers have implemented measures such as shortening the school day to end before 1 p.m.

However, many workers, such as 25-year-old motorbike driver Amadou Coulibaly, expressed that stopping work is not an option despite the health risks. "Either I work and risk my health or I stop working for most of the day and I earn nothing," Coulibaly stated.

According to a study by the World Weather Attribution, this heat wave across the Sahel region, which frequently suffers from droughts, is a direct result of human-induced climate change.

The study found that maximum temperatures in Burkina Faso and Mali have increased by 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) due to global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Clair Barnes, the lead author of the study, warned that such extreme heat events are likely to occur once every 20 years if current warming trends continue.

This situation serves as a critical reminder of the growing threat of extreme weather events globally and underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate climate change impacts and support vulnerable populations, particularly in regions like the Sahel.