IRIN
CONGO: Help for 2,800 flood victims
27 November 2006


[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United 
Nations]

BRAZZAVILLE, 27 November (IRIN) - Aid has begun to trickle in to help 
some of the 5,000 flood victims in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic 
of the Congo, according to a local official of an American aid body.

The International Partnerships for Human Development (IPHD) on Saturday 
began distributing rice, foam mats, mosquito nets, buckets, torches, 
blankets, washing powder and school books to 2,800 people, from the 
US$66,000 provided by the US embassy and the oil giant Chevron Texaco.

"The amount is so small that we cannot take care of everyone needing 
help," Louis Ngoma, the IPHD health project coordinator, said in 
Brazzaville.

Torrential rains have flooded several northeastern neighbourhoods of the 
city, causing landslides and sweeping away homes.

The government has been unable to provide relief. An official at the 
Ministry of Humanitarian Aid, who did not wish to be identified, said 
government attention had been fixed firmly on refugees from neighbouring 
Democratic Republic of Congo, who had fled ethnic fighting and were now 
living along the Congo River, some 200 km north of Brazzaville.

Ngoma said flood victims who had lost their homes were being hosted by 
other families. Those whose homes are still standing have returned as 
water levels have receded.

He said there had not been any reports of disease outbreaks but there 
was still a risk of diarrhoeal diseases.

"When there are such floods, epidemics do not break out immediately. We 
must intervene to prevent them, especially those that might arise from 
the presence of faecal material," he said.

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