700,000 homeless in Benin floods
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Pastor Dale Morgan
Oct 26, 2010, 5:04:57 AM10/26/10
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Perilous Times and Climate Change
700,000 homeless in Benin floods
By Africa correspondent Andrew Geoghegan
Posted Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:11am AEDT
The United Nations has begun airlifting urgently needed supplies to the west African country of Benin, which has been deluged by floodwaters that have killed at least 60 people and affected 700,000 more.
Heavy rain has inundated two-thirds of Benin, destroying entire towns and there is no sign the heavy rains that have hit the country in the past month are abating.
The floods are the worst to hit the small, impoverished country in almost half a century, and while the exact death toll is unclear, it is believed that at least 60 people have died.
Reports from the hardest hit areas indicate that many people have sought refuge on the roofs of their houses because they are reluctant to leave.
At least 100,000 people are homeless, and the biggest concern is the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
The UN refugee agency has begun an emergency airlift of 3,000 tents, and an outbreak of cholera has also prompted a call for urgent medical supplies.
The flooding has also affected the neighbouring country of Togo.
700,000 homeless in Benin floods
By Africa correspondent Andrew Geoghegan
Posted Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:11am AEDT
The United Nations has begun airlifting urgently needed supplies to the west African country of Benin, which has been deluged by floodwaters that have killed at least 60 people and affected 700,000 more.
Heavy rain has inundated two-thirds of Benin, destroying entire towns and there is no sign the heavy rains that have hit the country in the past month are abating.
The floods are the worst to hit the small, impoverished country in almost half a century, and while the exact death toll is unclear, it is believed that at least 60 people have died.
Reports from the hardest hit areas indicate that many people have sought refuge on the roofs of their houses because they are reluctant to leave.
At least 100,000 people are homeless, and the biggest concern is the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
The UN refugee agency has begun an emergency airlift of 3,000 tents, and an outbreak of cholera has also prompted a call for urgent medical supplies.
The flooding has also affected the neighbouring country of Togo.
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