Central African Republic – Deadly Floods in North West

At least 1 person died and almost 300 homes were severely damaged or destroyed as a result of flooding in Central African Republic in late August.

Flooding affected areas in the north west of the country, close to the border with Chad, from 19 to 20 August. According to a report of 02 September from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), areas of Ouham-Pendé prefecture were the worst affected, in particular the city of Paoua and the nearby village of Poumaïdji.

IFRC said that provisional reports indicate that at least 295 households or 1,475 people were affected, 1 person died and 5 were injured. Around 725 people have been displaced and have taken refuge in host families.

The report added that “295 houses were destroyed among which 199 completely and 96 partially. Families with partially or completely damaged houses were welcomed by families and friends, thus exacerbating the already limited resources of these host families. Water and sanitation infrastructures have also been destroyed, including 94 water wells and 107 latrines. The 05 bridges connecting certain neighbourhoods to these localities have equally been destroyed. Kitchen items and beddings have been also destroyed, washed away by the floods water.”

Wide areas of north-eastern Nigeria have seen damaging floods since mid-August, including Borno State, situated around 500km north west of Paoua.