The Stream, October 5: Drought Compounds Humanitarian Crisis in Sahel

Oxfam has urged the World Bank to stop its support of large-scale land investments, the Guardian reported. The land purchased by international investors could grow enough food for 1 billion people, but is instead being used to grow biofuels or is left idle, according to a report Oxfam released Thursday.

Researchers are hoping to gain more insight into rainfall patterns in the Amazon basin from Bolivian tree ring samples, United Press International reported.

Africa
Africa’s western Sahel region is combating its third severe drought since 2005, and a poor harvest coupled with the rise of militant groups could further destabilize the region, AlertNet reported, citing a United Nations official.

A unique landscape of rivers, lagoons and islands has always posed challenges for Lagos, Nigeria. This article from the Guardian looks at innovations that could help the city’s growing population deal with water issues like sea level rise and outdated infrastructure.

Flooding
Heavy rain and flash flooding in Cameroon has sparked debate over whether the natural disasters are a function of climate change, or mismanagement of dams, according to the Global Press Institute.

Does the United States federal government have to compensate landowners for damages caused when flood waters are released from its dams? The U.S. Supreme Court is currently hearing a case on the issue to determine if such actions count as a “taking” of private land for public use, Reuters reported.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

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