Elizabeth Guthrie and Walker Ristau
Flooding has affected millions of Africans throughout the continent in recent days.
From Senegal to Somalia, from Chad to South Africa, hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes, and many more need food and other supplies. Countries along the Sahel, a stretch of savannah south of the Sahara desert, have been hit particularly hard.
Sudan
After floods hit eastern and central Sudan, particularly around the Blue Nile, the United Nations responded by providing relief to as many as 500,000 people, at least 150,000 of whom are homeless. An estimated 1.5 million people will soon be in need of assistance.
Chad
Lake Lere has overflowed in southwest Chad, flooding dozens of villages. Flooding is also beginning along the Bhar Azoum River of eastern Chad. Local authorities from the town of Am Timan are appealing to the government for help.
Somalia
Flooding from the Shabelle River is destroying farms and property in south-central Somalia, leaving a densely-populated area extremely vulnerable and in need of aid. Many of the 325,000 Somalians internally displaced by civil war live in the region, exacerbating the situation.
Kenya
Heavy rains have battered the flood-prone Budalang'i region of Kenya's Busia district. Continuous heavy rain in the Western Highlands caused two dykes to break resulting in massive flooding. So far 40,000 people have been displaced. Thousands of families are stranded at high points without food or water. Instead of evacuating them, officials have decided to drop off food and other supplies to them by helicopter.
Mali
Up to 15 people have died in Mali. In floods that spread across the country, 32,000 Malians are homeless, with an estimated half of them finding temporary shelter in school buildings. The government is pressing citizens to move into tents until new areas can be found where houses can be built.
Burkino Faso
Widespread floods since June have left 5,000 people internally displaced and destroyed at least 700 hectares of land. The situation is especially dire in the northern province of Loroum and the eastern provinces of Kouritenga and Namintinga. As victims wait for relief, it is likely that the school year will be pushed back from the scheduled opening date of September 15.
Mauritania
Thousands fled torrential rains in the lowlands of the southeast in early August and now they await aid. The death toll is uncertain but property destruction is widespread with nearly 11,000 left homeless in the village of Tintane alone.