Hundreds of thousands of people in Benin have been affected by the country’s worst flooding in nearly half a century, aid agencies have said.
At least 56 people have been killed and 55Â 000 homes damaged or destroyed when the West African nation was lashed by rains twice as heavy as usual.
More than 680Â 000 people have been affected in two-thirds of Benin. Areas previously thought not to be vulnerable to flooding have been devastated and villages wiped out.
Concerns are growing about sanitation, with 846 reported cases of cholera resulting in seven deaths so far, according to the humanitarian agency, Care.
It said the deluge, the most extreme since 1963, had had an impact on 51 out of 77 communes in the past five weeks. Along rivers and lakes fragile huts have been submerged in up to two metres of water.
“Some communities are used to being flooded every year,” said Helen Hawkins, Care’s water, sanitation and hygiene spokesperson.
“They have houses built on stilts and they leave and come back. But this year it’s far more severe. Some houses haven’t survived and some areas not use to flooding are under water.”
Possibility of further flooding
Hawkins said people who were forced to take refuge on their roofs had been able to go back inside their homes as the waters receded in some areas. But the rains were predicted to continue all week and further flooding was possible.
“Some people have gone to their families, some are sleeping in schools and health centres, which is causing problems for public services. Right now people need shelter, food and clean drinking water.”
The overflow from public toilets is sending human waste into water used for drinking, cooking and bathing, heightening the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera.
Care said it was distributing food, water purification tablets, soap and mosquito nets and holding hygiene education sessions for more than 10Â 000 people.
The agency said that the United Nations, the World Food Programme, Plan International, the Benin Red Cross and Britain’s department for international development were among those responding, but the Âcrisis had barely registered around the world.
Extraordinary devastation not resonated
Rotimy Djossaya, the country director of Care Benin, said: “All the elders agree that they have never seen such flooding. Yet the information has not resonated in the international community. It seems that, despite the extraordinary devastation caused by this year’s floods, people think it is simply the annual flooding season.”
The UN is preparing to send 3Â 000 tents to provide shelter for those left homeless. —