Niger: Heavy rain, deadly flooding across the country /update 1

Event

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced on Thursday, July 19, that heavy rain and severe flooding have killed at least 13 people and wounded 13 more across the country. More than 17,000 are also reportedly affected. The most affected areas are Maradi, Agadez, and Diffa. Further rain and flooding is likely in the coming days, along with associated traffic disruptions.

Context

Torrential downpours are a frequent occurrence during Niger's rainy season, which lasts from May to September, and often lead to significant flooding and traffic disruptions. Inadequate construction standards leave occupants at risk of collapsing buildings.

The OCHA warned in June that 180,000 people across Niger could be affected by severe flooding during this year's rainy season. In preparation, the Nigerien government has announced the completion of several dikes in its capital, Niamey, to protect an estimated 30,000 people from the flooding of the Niger River.

Advice

Individuals present in Niamey are advised to follow all instructions issued by local authorities (e.g. possible evacuation orders), allow additional time to travel, and monitor the situation via local media and weather reporting outlets. Please be advised that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock an adult over.