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Benin

BENIN: AS DEVASTATING FLOODS CONTINUE TO SPREAD, AID REACHING THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE

(New York/Geneva/Cotonou: 1 November 2010): Humanitarian organizations are providing essential humanitarian aid to people affected by floods in Benin over the last month, as rainfalls continues across the country, causing the Niger River in the north of Benin to rise, worsening the situation.

At least 680,000 people have already been affected by the floods which started in mid-September. Around 200,000 people, most of which are currently in host families, are in need of shelters, with over 55,000 homes totally destroyed, 128,000 hectares of crops ruined, and 81,000 livestock dead. A total of 55 municipalities out of 77 in Benin have been affected.

"Needs are very high because of the floods. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure the response is as quick and effective as it can be," said Nardos Bekele-Thomas, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Benin.

On 30 October, the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners CARE and Caritas distributed food to approximately 2,450 vulnerable people living with host families in Zangnanado, one of the worst affected areas of the country.

"Food is one of the most important needs at this stage," said Moumini Ouedraogo, WFP Country Director in Benin, "Many people lost their crops because of the devastating floods--if we do not intervene in time, the consequences could be serious."

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has provided 262,000 water purification tablets and hygiene material for 150,000 people. To support the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided a health kit for treating 1,000 cholera cases over a period of three months and Médicines Sans Frontières is providing logistical support for the treatment of cholera cases in the Benin capital of Cotonou.

More aid will be delivered in the days ahead. Approximately 430 tents will be distributed in the Departments of Alibori, Borgou, Colline, Mono and Zou in the coming days by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in collaboration with its partners on the ground.

Donors have also shown their support to Benin. The Government of Japan has sent emergency supplies, including blankets, tents, plastic sheeting and bedding. The mobile company Mobile Telephone Network donated 30 million FCA, or more than US$ 63,600, to Caritas for the distribution of food and to purchase 600 insecticide-treated nets, and the Bank of Africa in Benin donated 25 million FCA to support humanitarian activities.

For further information, please call: OCHA Cotonou: Stefania Trassari, +229 66556281, trassari@un.org; OCHA-New York: Stephanie Bunker, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 347 244 2106, bunker@un.org; Nicholas Reader, +1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117, reader@un.org,, OCHA Geneva: Elisabeth Byrs, +41 22 917 2653, mobile +41 79 473 4570, byrs@un.org OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int

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