Resilience of Lake Chad communities in the face of the dual pressure of flooding and insecurity

Abstract

The Lake Chad Basin, in the heart of the Sahel, is facing an unprecedented combination of environmental and security pressures. This study analyzes the resilience strategies implemented by communities in the area, subject to the dual constraints of recurrent flooding and insecurity linked to non-state armed groups. The methodological approach is based on semi-structured surveys of 223 households (refugees, internally displaced persons, returnees and hosts), distributed in three (3) departments exposed to varying degrees of flood risk and insecurity. The results show that agriculture (37.9%) and livestock (24.1%) are the most affected sectors, with massive crop losses, animal theft and disorganization of transhumance circuits. Community resilience strategies reveal an orientation towards crop diversification, income-generating activities and collective fodder reserves. However, education, fisheries, and social cohesion sectors remain marginalized in local responses. The study highlights the need for an integrated, multisectoral approach to sustainably strengthen resilience in this context of intersecting vulnerabilities.

Keywords: Lake Chad, Community resilience, Floods, Insecurity, Livelihoods