For almost ten years, villages in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin have been devastated by violent wars. The situation has been made worse by recent floods, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Floods prompt worries about whether already-existing disputes will worsen or if new ones will start. Although these worries are legitimate and climate change may be a contributing cause to conflicts, the relationship between climate change and conflict is still unclear and complicated.
Climate shocks also lead to stress, which is especially noticeable in people residing in areas afflicted by violence. It is inaccurate to assume that tensions and disputes would inevitably result from this stress. Communities, for example, are more prone to support one another than to engage in conflict.