By Thuto Ngobeni

Chadian authorities say at least 340 people were killed in the floods, with tens of thousands of houses destroyed and more than 250 000 hectares of crops flooded.

Torrential rainfall has triggered unprecedented flooding in Chad affecting 636 localities in the country while swallowing up more than 465 000 hectares of fields and affecting 18 out of 23 provinces in the country.

Speaking at a briefing in Geneva, Jens Laerke, a Spokesperson for the United Nations(UN) humanitarian office  says , with farmland flooded and livestock drowned, there will be a lot less food available now and in the future in a country where 3.4 million people already face acute hunger , the highest level of food insecurity ever recorded in Chad.

Meanwhile Laerke says UN agencies and non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners are assisting the Chadian authorities by providing food and much needed supply.

“UN agencies and our NGO partners are supporting the Chadian authorities and responding with food and nutrition supplies, vaccinating children, surveying waterborne diseases, building shelters and delivering tents, tarpaulins and blankets”, confirmed Laeka.

However, given the scope and the scale of this disaster, more financial support will be needed, he says.  

-ChannelAfrica--