2008 Benin floods

Flooding

The Mono River and Ouémé River which flows down through central Benin into the economic capital of Cotonou on the coast in particular was a problem. Weeks after the initial flooding in July 2008, many areas of Cotonou were still not drained, posing a serious risk to health given that the flooding affected many densely populated areas and some 10% of the nation's population live in the city. Representatives from the municipal council of Cotonou, WHO’s Cotonou office and the Benin’s Ministry of Hygiene, Public Health and Social Affairs, urged on 15 August 2008 that an evacuation and relocation plan was required given that heavier storms were expected in September and October.

On 15 September 2008 reports broke out that the commune of Adjohoun had been seriously affected by the flooding of the Ouémé River. The area, which is a fertile agricultural valley, threatened the livelihoods of some 57,000 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LSGZ-7JHS4W?OpenDocument&RSS20=02-P|title=Benin: River flooding prompts fears of malnutrition, disease|date=September 15, 2008|publisher=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

Response

Part of the problem with the flooding was that few who succumbed to the flooding were unwilling to evacuate their homes in Cotonou. The district of Vossa was completely inundated in flood water and a disaster relief team from WHO had to be sent into Ayelawadje district of the city whilst UN agencies collaborated with the Cotonou government to pump out water and clear roads in the capital. Since 30 July 2008 the World Health Organization reported 192 cases of cholera in Cotonou and helped fund US$20,000 towards the government’s cholera treatment efforts. According to Dr. Eric Laroche, Assistant Director-General of WHO, "West Africa's annual floods bring with them not only the threat of vector-borne and communicable diseases, but it further endangers the lives of people already malnourished by the food price crisis." The flooding increased the risk of Meningitis and yellow fever as well as posing a threat to an estimated 5 million people living with HIV/AIDS in West Africa. Malaria, diarrhoeal and respiratory infections, and malnutrition posed a threat to the population living along the river basins.

References

References

1. "Floods in West Africa raise major health risks". [[World Health Organization]], [[Geneva]].
2. "BENIN: Half million potential flood victims : WHO". IRIN, [[UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]].