Floods in Africa: Lisa’s story

Southern Benin, like much of West Africa, saw torrential rains and floods destroy crops and wash away homes last year.

Although the human death toll was thankfully not as high as it might have been, the effects of the floodwaters are still felt in many areas.

Food supplies have been put under pressure and then there is the threat of disease, which accompanies a deluge and usually peaks up to two months after the waters have receded.

Life was already tough for four-year-old Lisa, her sister Rachelle and her mother Henriette before the floods came. Since Lisa’s father died in 2004 they had little income but at least they had a home in the village of Fohohoué.

Not any more however; the waters washed it away and destroyed their crops in the process.

Lisa is still in shock as she saw it happen in front of her. She said: “It happened in daylight. When the first part of our house collapsed, we hurried to collect important belongings before the entire house collapsed.”

She cries every time she is reminded about the destruction of her home, where her father had also been buried.

For elder sister Rachelle there was an additional problem to be faced - her future education. The second-form pupil at Lalo College wondered if she could ever return to school now that all was lost at home.

She said: “We have lost all our crops so I don’t know what we can do to pay for my school fees and besides, we are now living too far from the college.”

Fortunately for the family, they were able to move in with their grandmother in Gnizounmé in another part of Lalo commune. This village had also been affected by the flood but the grandmother’s house has been spared.

Plan moved quickly to help them and the many families in similar situations. Rachelle added: “I thank God because we are still alive. And I thank also Plan for giving us some food and things like mosquito nets and covers to survive.”

Helping communities in Mali

Plan-supported communities in Baroueli in central Mali also saw huge damage as a result of the August floods, with transport, livelihoods and trade all disrupted.

More than 150 families lost their homes, while more than 900 homes were either partially or completely damaged.

In addition many families reported food shortages as large areas of arable farmland were destroyed, with increased incidences of diarrhoea, dysentery and skin itching among children, from polluted well-water.

Plan Mali responded to appeals from 13 communities, delivering 56 tons of cereals, 500 impregnated mosquito nets, 600 cans of bleach and 120 tins of disinfectant.