Scientists have found that the devastating floods triggered by intense rainfall in Southern Africa in recent weeks were made worse by climate change and have exposed deep social vulnerability, causing a disaster described as “a textbook case of climate injustice”. While such rainfall remains relatively rare, the analysis shows it would have been far less severe in a cooler climate. In a statement launching an emergency funding appeal, Water Aid’s Southern Africa director Robert Kampala said the floods are some of the worst the region has ever seen. With many people already living in poverty and informal housing, the floods have devastated lives and livelihoods, the aid organisation said. The WWA study said strengthening resilience against floods will require full implementation of existing policies and better coordination across river basins.