With some 940 million people active in agriculture around the world, farmers are set to be the worst hit by rising temperatures. Globally, 675 billion hours are lost every year because of excessive heat and humidity, amounting to roughly 1.7% of global GDP. Extreme heat is the deadliest climate risk: Globally, it is responsible for almost half a million deaths per year, although data is lacking in many countries in the Global South, which experience some of the direst effects of rising temperatures.īeyond the impacts on worker health and wellbeing, extreme heat is causing myriad economic impacts – disrupting vital supply chains, slowing down business operations, and harming labor productivity. In the US, 40 workers per day die from excessive heat, largely while doing outdoor jobs such as farming, construction, and package delivery.Įxtreme heat is associated with increases in mental health conditions, such as depression, and exacerbates a range of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Last year, an estimated 62,000 lives were lost in Europe alone due to extreme heat. Provisional results are expected to be released on November 24, said Soava Andriamarotafika, a spokesperson for the Independent National Electoral Commission.The body’s ability to adapt is being tested as temperature records shatter worldwide, causing increases in heat exhaustion and heatstroke for vulnerable people and communities around the world. The government said its duty was to maintain order. The UN human rights office said last month security forces had used “unnecessary and disproportionate force” against peaceful protesters and called for respect for freedom of expression and assembly. Over the past six weeks, police have used teargas to break up regular protests by opposition supporters. Rajoelina says the constitution does not require the head of state to exclusively hold Malagasy nationality, and that any loss of nationality is subject to signed authorisation by the government. His opponents say he should be disqualified because he acquired French nationality in 2014. He stepped down after almost five years as leader of a transitional authority and then became president after winning a 2018 election. Rajoelina, a 49-year-old entrepreneur and former DJ, rose to power in a 2009 coup that scared off investors in the Indian Ocean island. “I expect the next president to create jobs for young people,” she said, as she prepared to cast her vote at dawn.Ĭalls by the opposition to postpone the elections were echoed by the organisation grouping Madagascar’s four biggest Christian churches, which declared on Wednesday that it would not observe the vote, citing an unsuitable political environment and lack of standards. Rija Ralijaona, a 26-year-old day labourer, said she expected whoever wins the election to reduce unemployment. Rajoelina faces growing isolation after leading opposition figures, including two former presidents, declared him unfit to run and called on their supporters to abstain from voting. They have the right not to participate but the populations have the right and the duty to vote,” he said after voting in Antananarivo’s northern neighbourhood of Atmobe, flanked by his wife and children. “A handful of people tried to prevent citizens from expressing their choice. They also demanded new people be put in charge of the electoral commission and a special court set up to hear vote disputes.īut Rajoelina, who is seeking a third term, dismissed calls for a delay as a political tactic and warned opponents that trying to prevent people from voting was unlawful. The opposition held marches for more than six weeks before the vote to push for a postponement. Ten of 12 opposition candidates boycotted the poll, saying conditions for a fair election had not been met. “I am not going to vote because it is an election that doesn’t meet the standards, so what’s the point,” the 50-year-old said. Mama Pôta, a shop vendor in the capital, said she had no intention of casting her vote. Local election officials said initial voter turnout was about 30% in areas supporting the ruling party and just 15% to 20% in opposition strongholds, signalling public disdain towards the vote. People queued at polling stations in areas supporting President Andry Rajoelina and his Tanora MalaGasy Vonona (Young Malagasy People Ready) party, while those in opposition neighbourhoods were mostly empty. The election unfolded peacefully with a low-key security presence across the capital Antananarivo but turnout was low. Antananarivo - Voting closed in the first round of Madagascar’s presidential election on Thursday, which took place despite a boycott by most opposition candidates and weeks of violent protests in the run-up to polling day.
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