Attachments
Glide Number: FL-2023-000001-COG
Description of the Event
What happened, where and when?
Since September 2022, heavy rains and strong winds have caused flooding as well as the destruction of homes and thousands of hectares of plantations in the departments of Likouala, Sangha, Cuvette and Plateaux. 164,679 people have been affected by the floods, displaced and sheltered in the forests, makeshift shelters and many are in perpetual search of a refuge.
The consequences of these floods are compounded by the successive impact of the rains on the communities that are repeatedly affected throughout the rainy seasons since October 2019 for the 4 most affected departments above.
According to the observations of the Congolese Red Cross branches, it seems relevant to emphasize that the areas, populations and lands affected since the floods of October 2021 are among the disasters victims listed again due to the rains of September 2022. From September of each year to March of the following year, rainfall affects an average of 8 departments out of the 12 in the country.
The level of deterioration of the living conditions and the needs observed are the cumulative result of the rainy seasons since 2021, whose rains in the last quarter of 2022 have only worsened the already precarious situation of communities since 2021 in endemic departments to flooding. In effect, the rains of November 29, 2021 caused a sharp increase in water level and led to the total or partial flooding of several villages, neighborhoods, districts of the departments of Likouala (districts of Betou, Epena and Dongou), Sangha; Cuvette and Plateaux. During these floods in 2021, the government put in place a strategic flood response plan in the affected localities with the support of the United Nations andthe partners including the Red Cross. The CRC in support of this plan provided assistance to communities through the DREF. Unfortunately, the lack of funding in general, has limited the implementation and left populations in need, still displaced and vulnerable. Partner support of the Government's response plan is a necessity.
According to the report produced by an assessment mission organized in November 2022 by the United Nations organizations and the government, 164,679 people affected by this situation are in need of humanitarian assistance. Several departments affected: LIKOUALA with three localities (Betou , Enyelé and Impfondo) and SANGHA (Pokola and Kabo).
On December 30, 2022 , the Ministry of Social Affairs, Solidarity and Humanitarian Action sent a letter to the Congolese Red Cross in order to request assistance for the benefit of the victims of the 2022 floods which identified needs are very broad.