UN agencies gear up to help flood-stricken Central African Republic

United Nations agencies are planning a coordinated response to severe flooding in the Central African Republic (CAR) following a request from the Government to the UN Country Team (UNCT) for food, non-food items, and construction material.

Major concerns are water and sanitation needs and the prevention of waterborne diseases after the flooding earlier this month affected nearly 10,000 people in Bangui, the capital, completely destroying over 600 homes and damaging 800 more, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest update today.

“This is the beginning of the rainy season and it is expected that heavier rains will come in the September/October, further exacerbating the situation,” OCHA added.

The UNCT along with the Government is looking at longer-term measures to deal with the situation, it said. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in cooperation with the Health Ministry are evaluating the needs for vaccination against measles for children under 5.

The UNCT is working on a plan to support health centres with the provision of drugs for the treatment of anyone affected by waterborne diseases, cholera, hepatitis E, bacillary dysentery, and malaria.

WHO and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) will provide medical kits, each allowing for the treatment of 10,000 people for three months.