Link: Benin: Fire - DREF operation n° MDRBJ011

Link: Cholera Epidemic DREF operation n° MDRBJ010

Link: Benin: Floods DREF operation n° MDRBJ009

1) Both anomalous seasonal rainfall and the northward position of the Inter-Tropical front during the past several months have favored breeding conditions for desert locusts over southeast Mauritania-western Mali, central Niger-eastern Mali, Chad, and east-central Sudan. With seasonal rains ending and as vegetation dries out, locusts are expected to concentrate and migrate towards the north as well as potentially into cropping areas in Mali and Niger.

HIGHLIGHTS

• More than 1.5 million people affected by floods in 13 countries from West and Central Africa

• As of 15 September the number of deaths is estimated at 340, mainly in Niger and Nigeria

More than 1.5 million people affected by the floods

According to data collected to date, more than one and a half million people were affected by heavy rains that fell on West and Central Africa the months of July and August 2012. Niger, Chad, Senegal and Nigeria together account for more than 90 per cent of identified affected people.

Content
Overview of reported outbreaks in the WHO African Region
Based on data received from the Early Warning System through the Event Management System (EMS)*, 56 public health events were reported to the Regional Office covering the period January - August 2012 of which 89% were due to infectious diseases.

Ongoing outbreaks

• Cholera in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia
• Cholera in DR Congo
• Cholera in Zambia
• Ebola in DR Congo
• Ebola in Uganda

1) The five-week delay in the onset of the March-May seasonal rainfall had significantly impacted ground moisture and cropping activities in the central region of Ethiopia. Although rainfall has been consistent in the western parts of the country since the middle of May, accumulated rainfall has been well below-average since the start of the Kiremt rainy season in June. Another week of increased rainfall is forecast during the next seven days. This could help continue to reduce moisture deficits and aid cropping activities in the region.