The Central African Republic lives under the threat of a major humanitarian tragedy. Many thousands of desperate families find themselves with nothing after the rising waters that followed a dozen days of torrential rain.
Some 28,000 people are homeless in Bangui and throughout the country, their homes have been engulfed by the rising waters, said Tuesday, October 29 the Central African Red Cross. Their calls for help do not seem to have been heard. The special envoys of France 24 went to meet these victims, delivered to themselves in most cases.
In Bangui, Lydie Yango, a homeless mother, confided in France 24. She and her children found refuge in a tent, in unsanitary conditions, with about twenty people. "No deputy, nor the mayor, came to see us," she regrets.
Water contaminated by waste
If the rains have stopped, the water level continues to rise. Water is polluted by waste, continues to rise, which is a source of concern, especially for children exposed to diseases such as malaria. "Drinking water is lacking, there are problems with latrines, mosquitoes, cold and the risk of epidemics such as cholera," said government spokesman, Ange-Maxime Kazagui.
Every ten years, Oubangui, the main river of the country, experiences a major flood. In 1999, the floods had already caused significant damage. Today, the phenomenon has been further aggravated by exceptional rainfall in duration and magnitude for this season.
Exceeded, the government of the Central African Republic, one of the poorest countries in the world, calls for international aid. "We do not have a structure to welcome people, but we wait for NGOs to offer tents, shelters, to secure people," said Ange-Maxime Kazagui.
With AFP