Heavy rains disrupt life in Abidjan and exacerbate losses for traders and drivers

Written by: Ayman Ragab

For several weeks, the city of Abidjan has been experiencing heavy and continuous rainfall, which, as happens every year, has caused floods that have swept through many neighborhoods, disrupting the daily lives of residents and commercial activities.

Authorities had repeatedly warned of the risks of flooding and landslides during the rainy season.

From behind her small kiosk, Juhi Evelyn anxiously observes her declining profits, saying: “When it rains, nothing works. Customers prefer to stay at home, and even those who come leave quickly.”.

economic hardship

Sometimes an entire day goes by without me making good sales, and I often have to borrow money before going home.”

The situation is no different for motorcycle delivery drivers, who confirmed that bad weather directly affects their income, as flooded and slippery roads, along with traffic jams and difficulty accessing some neighborhoods, impede movement, especially after a number of roads in the Abidjan region, particularly in Bingerville, were affected by heavy rains.

A tragedy for street vendors

As for street vendors on the sides of roads or in unprotected areas, they constantly face the risk of their goods being damaged, as many of them work under temporary shelters or without any means of protection.

Juhi confirms that her merchandise would already be soaked before she could find shelter to protect it from the rain.

“As soon as the sky darkens, we get nervous, as water can leak everywhere,” says one food trader, who works under a wooden shed.

Sometimes we lose bags of rice, sugar and other products, and these are losses that no one can compensate us for.”
Due to mudslides, traders are also forced to frequently lift their goods or reinforce their temporary structures to protect them.

Despite these challenges, many continue their work, refusing to give up, after the rainy season became an annual test for them, which they gradually adapted to, so that umbrellas, additional covers, and wooden platforms became essential equipment that they relied on to cope with the weather conditions.