Homes and crops destroyed, more than 40 people killed and 73 000 affected as widespread floods hit Benin

Heavy rains affecting central parts of Benin since September 2022 caused significant flooding that resulted in widespread damage and fatalities. Heavy rains are expected to continue through October.

• According to the FLOOD SITREP No. 041/MISP/ANPC of September 29 to 30, 2022, 1 462 homes were damaged or destroyed, 609 poultry and 583 cattle were killed, 161 water points were affected, and 18 770 ha (46 381 acres) of crops were damaged. The number of schools and colleges rendered inaccessible is 120 and the number of health centers shut down is 11.
• These floods have disrupted life in communities and 41 deaths have been recorded in various zones. 

According to the report published by the International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), 27 municipalities out of the country’s 77 were flooded.¹

Rivers Mono, Oueme, and Niger in Benin overflew their banks unprecedentedly. This sudden increase in water levels, which occurred when the waters in the Nagbéto dam in Togo were released and intense rains fell, left four 4 people dead from drowning, 35 from water-related accidents while 3 others went missing, according to Benin’s National Civil Protection Agency (ANPC).

This caused widespread floods in Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, So-Ava, Seme-Podji, Aguegues, Adjohoun, Bonou, Dangbo, Ouinhi, Zagnanado, Zogbodomey, Glazoue, Grand-Popo, Athiémé, Lokossa, Bopa, Tchaourou, Malanville, Karimama, Banikoara, Dassa-Zoume, Savalou, and Ze.

Many villages were flooded as well as numerous social and community facilities, including over 50 primary schools, and a dozen colleges.

More than 73 000 people have been affected and more than 1 400 houses were damaged by the waters, including at least 670 that have been destroyed.

Significant crop and livestock losses were recorded over thousands of hectares across 22 municipalities.

The worst-affected municipalities are Ouesse, Savalou, Zogbodome, Zagnanado, Tchaourou, Karimama, Dangbo, Bonou, Ze, and Athieme, totaling 71 270 people affected and 1 328 households rendered homeless by the destruction of their homes.

References:

¹ Benin Floods 2022 DREF Application (MDRBJ017) – IFRC – October 22, 2022

Featured image credit: Agence Nationale de Protection Civile Benin