The World Food Program (WFP) reports that flooding has affected around 50,000 people in parts of the Republic of the Congo, also called Congo-Brazzaville.
Flooding began around the end of October. Media reported that thousands of houses and other buildings including schools have been severely damaged or washed away. Roads and infrastructure also suffered damage. According to local media, wide areas of crops have been destroyed causing concern about food shortages.
Much of the flooding has occurred in low-lying areas along the Ubangi river (also known as Oubangui) and where the Ubangi and Congo rivers meet in the northern departments of Likouala and Cuvette and Plateaux.
Flood water reached roof level in some areas and residents have moved to higher ground. A state of natural disaster has been confirmed by the Congo-Brazzaville government.
Levels of the Ubangi river upstream from Congo-Brazzaville have been high for several weeks now. In late October the river broke its banks flooding wide areas of Central African Republic. By mid-November around 60,000 people had been affected.
Around 40,000 people were displaced by flood waters from the river in Sud-Ubangi and Nord-Ubangi provinces in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Social Media
Catastrophe naturelle dans le département de la Likouala au nord du Congo Brazzaville. pic.twitter.com/rxrr3SJPzy
— Parfait Moka (@moka_parfait) November 7, 2019
