Chad floods depart victims in despair

Within the beleaguered capital of N’Djamena, a subject of tents has sprung as much as present emergency shelter and victims are striving to salvage what they’ll from the ruins of their houses.

Water ranges rose by as much as 5 metres (16.4 toes), which native officers mentioned was unprecedented, and swept apart makeshift defences erected by determined inhabitants.

She scrabbled round to choose up items of corrugated sheeting, tied them collectively and positioned them in a canoe, which might take her household and their belongings to a safer place.

– ‘Underneath water’ –

“We do not have a spot to remain, our belongings are on the street,” mentioned Marie Noelle Aziza. “I misplaced my cash and gold. I’ve nothing left”.

Within the space round Walia, greater than 60,000 individuals have affected, in keeping with the authorities.

An aged girl died in her house final week, however there have been no different identified casualties, he mentioned.

Some individuals have discovered shelter with their households within the metropolis centre, he mentioned, whereas tents have been set as much as accommodate nearly 2,000 individuals. 

However this was not sufficient — “the water ranges this yr had been larger than in earlier years,” he mentioned.

– Local weather hyperlink –

“We requested the authorities to bolster the dykes in N’Djamena however sadly, the suitable measures weren’t taken,” Djekounda mentioned.

However this yr, the devastation, and the rainfall, have been distinctive, say consultants.

“All our research say that these rains could be linked with local weather change,” Katiellou Gaptia Lawan, head of Niger’s nationwide meteorological company, instructed AFP.

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