West and Central Africa: Flooding Situation (As of 30 August 2021)

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Since the beginning of the year, flooding has affected 669,000 people in West and Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Niger, Chad, Nigeria, Togo, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and Ghana. Heavy rainfalls, floods, and windstorms killed 174 people, injured 300, displaced 69,000, and destroyed 72,000 houses.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, floods have affected more than 291,000 people since the start of the year. One person died and two are missing after flash floods ripped through the city of Bukavu, the capital of the South Kivu Province on 19 August. Flooding has also affected areas of the neighboring North Kivu Province.

In Gambia, since the beginning of the rainy season, windstorms and flash floods have killed 12 people and affected 109,000.

Food stock losses have been significant, while erratic rainfalls affect farming, requiring increased food security-related preparedness. Support is also needed for the rehabilitation of major critical infrastructures such as schools and hospitals.

In Niger, so far in 2021, flooding has affected over 158,000 people in 413 villages across 77 communes in all eight regions: Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Tillabéri and Zinder. Over 60 people have died and cholera outbreaks are being recorded in several regions.

In Nigeria, flooding has affected western, northern and eastern areas, causing damage to hundreds of homes and farms and killing dozens. Flooding has affected 32,000 people so far in 2021 in Nigeria.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs