Irish Red Cross is concerned about extensive flooding across West and Central Africa

In addition to the immediate human toll, the current flooding has caused severe damage to public infrastructure such as schools, health care facilities, roads, bridges, water supply systems, power and telephone lines and housing. Crop damage has been extensive, with many families deprived of their means of agricultural production due to inundated fields or damaged water pumps. Weather forecasts indicate that the rains will persist, and the number of people affected by flooding is therefore expected to increase. The flooding poses health risks, such as waterborne disease outbreaks and other related infections. Interventions by the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement aimed at minimizing such risks are therefore being prioritized.

Coordination and the exchange of information are ongoing at the country and regional levels between Government agencies, partner Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and other humanitarian actors. Red Cross Red Crescent National Society plans of action are integrated in national response plans. Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies and the Red Cross Zone office in Dakar, Senegal, will continue efforts to exchange timely and accurate operational information, and to coordinate action with UN agencies, particularly UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has released €660,000 from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to help the Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies of Benin, CAR, Ghana, Gambia and Chad to cover immediate needs.

The most affected countries are Burkina Faso and Senegal and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched two appeals of a total amount € 3.2 million to help the Red Cross National Societies of Burkina Faso and Senegal to assist flood victims in both countries. The funds collected will be used to assist 65,000 people (the most affected) for six months: 40,000 in Burkina Faso and 25,000 in Senegal.

The Irish Red Cross has a number of livelihood and capacity building projects in Niger, a country badly affected by the recent floods. Noel Wardick, Head of the International Department, Irish Red Cross, said ‘we are in daily contact with our Red Cross colleagues throughout the region as we monitor the impact of these devastating floods. Our staff in Niger are liaising closely with the Niger Red Cross and the ICRC and working closely with the national authorities and UN agencies. We will be doing everything in our power to minimise the impact on the poorest communities, who always suffer the worst in such circumstances’.