Thousands of people have lost everything - their homes, their belongings and their livelihoods

19 August 2010: At least 16 people have died due to severe flooding in Burkina Faso, with well over 58,000 having been badly affected in the North-Centre region where Plan works.

The crisis has already destroyed homes and livelihoods, displacing huge parts of the population, and is also washing away farmland. Continuing rains mean there is a risk that the situation could worsen: the torrential rains have hampered relief efforts by washing away shelter tents.

Whilst relief efforts started soon after the first floods, entire communities remain inaccessible due to the level of flooding, and people are being forced to take refuge on hilltops or in schools; some 60,000 are still in danger of being affected.

Plan responds

Working with local authorities and partners, Plan immediately started distributing urgent food and medical supplies; with crops destroyed, food security poses yet another risk to communities in the region.

Mobile latrines, wash facilities and hygiene instruction has also been set up in temporary shelters - the floods are also increasing the spread of disease. Please support our life-saving work by donating today.

We are also supplying mosquito nets, sleeping mats and clothing, and our relief has so far reached 35,000 people.

Afraid for the future

Talato, a father of 12 from Tougouri commune in the North-Centre region, said: “I have no savings; everything I earn is invested in food, school fees and healthcare. I’m really afraid for the future of our village, which lives mainly off of the land that’s irrigated by the dam waters, growing rice and vegetables. But now, all the water is going away after the dam burst its banks.”

What’s more, the crops that Talato and the other 80 famers in the commune had planted have been damaged by the flooding. They will all have to find food, and income, from other sources.

Psychological support

Plan has set up hygiene instruction tents in an effort to counteract the high levels of disease that could be spread by the floods

Aside from ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the flood’s victims, one of Plan’s priorities in the coming weeks of the disaster will be ensuring affected schools and education facilities are rehabilitated to reduce the impact on children’s education, and providing psychological support to those most affected.

But Plan in Burkina Faso still needs an additional 840,000US$ to carry out its flood relief activities.

Please make a donation today via the Burkina Faso floods emergency appeal

Read more about our work in Burkina Faso