Heavy rainfall causes 94 deaths in Niger

NIAMEY, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) — Heavy rainfall has caused 94 deaths, 93 people injured and 137,156 others affected in Niger since the rainy season began in May, authorities said.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Minister of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management Aissa Lawan Wandarma said that among the dead, 44 were due to flooding and 50 due to house collapses.
According to the minister, all eight regions of the country have been hit by the floods, including 692 villages, 129 communes and 46 departments.
In total, there are 14,045 houses collapsed, 502 huts destroyed, 15,472 heads of livestock lost, 2,763 hectares of agricultural land flooded, 17,495 tons of food ruined, and 37 classrooms damaged.
To date, food distribution actions are underway, with large stocks of food and non-food kits on the way, Wandarma said.
In addition, the government has taken necessary measures to ensure that all people affected by the floods receive the assistance they need.
Since August is the month of heavy rainfall, Wandarma called on people to leave homes in risk areas, preserve water drainage arrangements and rehabilitate houses in poor condition. She also urged the affected people to leave the ruins of their homes to avoid diseases. ■