Environmental
Severe drought in Suriname disrupts river life and worsens food and health crises
A historic drought in Suriname's interior has severely lowered river levels, impeding transport and triggering food, water, and health crises in remote communities.
Communities in Suriname's interior are enduring a deepening humanitarian crisis as a prolonged drought drains rivers to record lows. River transport times have ballooned from hours to full days, cutting off access to markets, medical care, and emergency supplies. Subsistence farmers face failed crops and water shortages, while dwindling clean water sources have increased waterborne diseases. Experts link the worsening drought to climate change, deforestation, and illegal gold mining, and they call for urgent government action to manage water resources and support vulnerable Indigenous and Maroon populations.
- Status
- active
- Location
- Upper Suriname, Suriname
- Date added
- 2026-03-26 10:58 UTC
- Last updated
- 2026-03-26 10:58 UTC
- Source
- EHN
- Connected threats
- Not provided