Flooding spreads across west Africa

Extensive floods previously confined to Burkina Faso have been spreading around the entire west African region. So far Senegal is most affected, followed by Burkina Faso, and then Guinea, Niger and most recently Benin. 187 people are known to have died.

Approximately 260,000 people have been affected by the floods in Senegal alone, according to UN figures. Many of these are homeless. Across the region families are currently forced to live communally in school buildings, a matter of real concern as the start of the new term approaches.

"I live with my father, my mother and my three sisters. Nowadays our house is flooded.

"There are many mosquitoes at home... my two sisters are suffering from malaria.

"In few days the school year will start and cause of the flood nobody think about it."

In Burkina Faso many people are still living communally in school buildings. Some have been moved into temporary camps, which although freeing up the schools present increased security risks.

Plan is organising the distribution of 8000 school kits, and is involved in the rehabilitation of water damaged schools.

According to Ibrahima Toure, Plan Guinea “Personal belongings and food stocks (have been) destroyed. Given the usually precarious situation of people (most people go out to find what they need to feed their family the same day) there is need to intervene immediately.”

Initially Plan will be providing essentials such as rice, medicines, and basic sanitation and cooking equipment. Longer term Plan will assist families and communities in rebuilding infrastructure. Plan is organising the distribution of 8000 school kits, and is involved in the rehabilitation of water damaged schools.