BURKINA FASO: Government releases long awaited flood damage numbers

OUAGADOUGOU

The number of dead from floods in Burkina Faso has risen to 46 people and some 95,000 have been displaced, according to new government estimates.

Even though Burkina Faso was one of the first countries in West Africa to report serious floods in a season of devastating floods across much of the region, accurate data had long been unavailable to aid agencies there because vast areas of the country were cut off by the flood waters.

“We now have the updated information because some areas are now accessible after the waters have withdrawn,” Amade Belem, the permanent secretary of the national emergency agency told IRIN on Saturday.

In the final count, 95,000 people have been affected and more than 9,000 houses washed away. The government is now concerned, though, that some three weeks have passed with no rain. “For the time the situation is under control, but there are fears that the lack of rains will have an impact on the cereals,” Belem added.

The UN in Ouagadougou says it will appeal for funds for malaria prevention, water and sanitation, agriculture and cattle raising, rehabilitation and education.

“The situation is not catastrophic but with regard to the scope of the damages, we can have a worse crisis after the populations have exhausted everything they have,” a senior UN official said.

UN agencies have already provided aid worth US$ 251,676, including 244 tents, 500 jerry cans, and 4,000 mosquito nets.