As Nyangai Island succumbs to the relentless sea, its residents grapple with the imminent loss of their homeland, a stark testament to climate change's devastating reach.
Tommy Trenchard reports for Hakai Magazine.
In short:
- Nyangai Island, once a vibrant community off Sierra Leone's coast, is rapidly shrinking due to severe erosion and rising sea levels.
- Residents, many of whom have lived on the island for generations, face the harsh reality of losing their homes and are forced to relocate.
- Efforts to combat the erosion, such as planting mangroves, have largely failed, leaving the community with few options for protection.
Key quote:
"The water is eating the island. We already fled from the water once and now we’re getting flooded again. The water is following us."
— Tewoh Koroma, a mother of six who lost her home to flooding
Why this matters:
The residents of these islands are often forced into difficult decisions, from reinforcing existing defenses against the sea to considering relocation to higher ground or even other countries. These choices come with profound cultural and emotional implications, as communities face the prospect of leaving ancestral lands behind.
