Plan offers lifeline to flood-hit Africans
A family forced to wade through floods in Benin
September 28, 2007
Plan is providing US$600,000 of emergency aid to help thousands of children made hungry and homeless by devastating floods in West Africa.
Deliveries of food and tents are underway to communities in Benin, Burkina Faso and Ghana — three of the worst affected countries in the region. Plan will also provide mosquito nets, blankets and medicines to protect children from the increased risk of malaria, cholera and water-borne diseases.
Half a million people across the West African region have been hit by the floods caused by heavy rains lasting three months. Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and swathes of crops on which the region depends have been washed away.
The floods caused misery for children already at risk of hunger and disease. Plan is one of the first international non-governmental organizations to commit money to helping those affected by the West African floods.
Emergency action
Tom Miller, Plan chief executive, said: “The only way to avert all out misery and suffering for these children is to act now. Children are in immediate danger from exposure, hunger, and diseases such as pneumonia, cholera and diarrhea. Plan is not prepared to wait for the situation to deteriorate further. We are therefore committing $600,000 to ensure that our relief effort takes effect as soon as possible.”
Ghana has been worst hit with more than 250,000 people in affected areas at increased risk from diseases such as cholera and diarrhea due to pollution of their water supply. At least 20 people have died as a result of the floods. Black flies — which can spread disease among humans including river blindness — have also emerged.
Almost 30,000 people have been made homeless in Burkina Faso and in Benin. People are stuck in villages where the only available shelters are homes that have been badly damaged by flood waters and are in danger of collapse.
Donate today to Plan's Disaster Relief and Recovery fund. Your support enables us to respond quickly and effectively to help children and families affected by disasters and crises. Thank you.
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Deliveries of food and tents are underway to communities in Benin, Burkina Faso and Ghana — three of the worst affected countries in the region. Plan will also provide mosquito nets, blankets and medicines to protect children from the increased risk of malaria, cholera and water-borne diseases.
Half a million people across the West African region have been hit by the floods caused by heavy rains lasting three months. Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and swathes of crops on which the region depends have been washed away.
The floods caused misery for children already at risk of hunger and disease. Plan is one of the first international non-governmental organizations to commit money to helping those affected by the West African floods.
Emergency action
Tom Miller, Plan chief executive, said: “The only way to avert all out misery and suffering for these children is to act now. Children are in immediate danger from exposure, hunger, and diseases such as pneumonia, cholera and diarrhea. Plan is not prepared to wait for the situation to deteriorate further. We are therefore committing $600,000 to ensure that our relief effort takes effect as soon as possible.”
Ghana has been worst hit with more than 250,000 people in affected areas at increased risk from diseases such as cholera and diarrhea due to pollution of their water supply. At least 20 people have died as a result of the floods. Black flies — which can spread disease among humans including river blindness — have also emerged.
Almost 30,000 people have been made homeless in Burkina Faso and in Benin. People are stuck in villages where the only available shelters are homes that have been badly damaged by flood waters and are in danger of collapse.
Donate today to Plan's Disaster Relief and Recovery fund. Your support enables us to respond quickly and effectively to help children and families affected by disasters and crises. Thank you.
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