A new analysis from Climate Impact Lab warns that climate change could sharply increase heat-related deaths across Africa by 2050. The study projects that at least 26 countries will see higher temperature-linked mortality compared with the 2001–2010 average, highlighting growing health risks tied to rising global temperatures. Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger face projected death tolls from extreme heat that could surpass those from stroke, one of the world’s leading causes of death. Meanwhile, parts of the Horn of Africa, including Djibouti, Somalia, and Ethiopia, could experience some of the steepest increases. Notably, Djibouti is projected to suffer twice the heat mortality of Kuwait despite similar climates—a gap explained almost entirely by poverty and inadequate adaptation infrastructure. Researchers say the findings underscore the urgent need for adaptation measures, especially in lower-income communities most vulnerable to extreme heat.
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