By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with VOA News
Published on 2024-01-19 17:35:39
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that the Republic of Congo is facing its worst flooding in six decades, leaving over 350,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance. OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke revealed at a news conference in Geneva that heavy rains late last year resulted in nine out of the country’s 12 provinces being submerged, impacting 1.8 million people.
The floods have caused a lack of shelter and access to primary health services in affected communities, with villages, schools, and health facilities being inundated. Additionally, many water points and sanitation facilities are no longer functional. The OCHA assessment indicated that more than 350,000 people urgently require emergency assistance, but reaching these villages is challenging as they can only be accessed by boat or canoe.
To address the nation’s most pressing needs, the U.N. has allocated $3.6 million from its central emergency response fund. However, Laerke also made an appeal to the international community for additional funds to alleviate the crisis.
The Republic of Congo is not the only country experiencing this crisis, as above-average rainfall in the second half of 2023 has also led to devastating flooding in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and other central and east African nations, causing numerous fatalities and leaving thousands homeless. Officials have attributed the unusually heavy rainfall to an El Nino weather pattern.
It is evident that the situation is dire, and the international community’s support is crucial in providing aid to the affected populations. The OCHA’s efforts, alongside the assistance of other humanitarian organizations and the generosity of donors, is essential in addressing the urgent needs of those impacted by the flooding crisis.
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