Floods in Chad: Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno declares a state of natural disaster

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Chad: In the capital Ndjamena, residents save what they can of their belongings in the face of rising waters (photo from October 14, 2022) REUTERS - MAHAMAT RAMADANE

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In Chad, in a message to the nation broadcast Wednesday evening on national television, the transitional president Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno declared a state of natural disaster.

Serious flooding threatens the capital and several towns along the Logone and Chari rivers, the country's two main rivers. 

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In a message to the nation broadcast Wednesday evening on national television, transitional President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno told Chadians that the worst should be expected if the water level continues to rise at the same rate as in recent weeks. .

To read also

: in Chad, Ndjamena affected by floods

After declaring a state of natural disaster, Mahamat Idriss Déby called on the international community for help.

“ 

Significant quantities of water are currently converging on Lake Chad, and will probably cause more damage than what has already been observed over the whole territory.

The most exposed areas are the city of Ndjamena and its surroundings, the existing structures were not designed on the basis of current meteorological and hydrological data, which means that the situation is becoming increasingly worrying.

The risk of widespread overflow becomes increasingly evident if the rise remains constant during this week.

A government response plan is in place to provide essentials to flood victims.

I announce to you that a state of emergency will be instituted to better contain and manage this situation of natural disaster.

I would like to call on friendly countries and technical and financial partners to support the government's efforts.

 »

Sites set up to accommodate disaster victims 

In the capital, Ndjamena, the

dykes built by the inhabitants

give way to the force of the waters of the rivers in flood which cross the city, the Chari and the Logone.

An estimated 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes.

Sites are being set up as a matter of urgency to accommodate these homeless populations.

Laura Lo Castro, representative of the UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Chad, in charge of this file, was joined yesterday by

Pauline Le Troquier

of the Africa editorial staff.

Laura Lo Castro (UNHCR): “the government has deployed military genius”

RFI

Also to listen

: Floods hamper the economy in Chad (2020)

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  • Chad

  • Natural disasters

  • Climate change