Floods: the government announces measures and mobilizes 921 billion FCFA for a structural response

Faced with the heavy rains recorded in recent days and the persistence of the risk of flooding, the government has strengthened its response system. Meeting urgently on Monday at the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Ahmadou Alhaminou M. Lo adopted several measures intended to help disaster victims, preserve mobility and anticipate further disruptions.

An emergency plan and permanent monitoring

After bringing together the ministries and services concerned, the head of government announced the triggering of the Dakar Regional Emergency Plan, in order to ensure permanent monitoring of developments in the situation. This decision comes as further precipitation is forecast in the coming days.

A monitoring committee was also set up alongside the staff responsible for managing bad weather. Several sensitive areas have been identified, including highways, the Philippe Maguilen Senghor hospital and the catchment area. The government intends to anticipate possible disruptions to water and electricity supplies.

Clearance operations are also underway in areas where water impedes traffic. The system also provides better information to populations through an alert system.

Disaster relief and back-to-school under supervision

On the social side, the Ministry responsible for Family and Solidarity has been instructed to provide immediate assistance to the affected populations. Water and food distributions are planned for those hardest hit. Financial resources must also be mobilized for emergency interventions.

The start of the school year, scheduled for October 8 for students, is also the subject of a special evaluation in Dakar. The Minister of National Education must examine the state of establishments and affected areas. If conditions do not allow a normal resumption of classes, a postponement may be proposed.

The government has also reaffirmed its compassion for bereaved families and its support for populations affected by bad weather. The Prime Minister notably visited affected sites in the Dakar suburbs to observe the situation and interact with the populations.

Beyond the emergency, a structural response

Beyond immediate interventions, the executive intends to place the fight against floods in a long-term perspective. The government announced the implementation of a national flood control program worth 921 billion CFA francs, presented as a structural response to the recurrence of the phenomenon.

The government strategy is therefore deployed on two fronts: responding without delay to the consequences of heavy rains and strengthening, over time, the measures intended to reduce the vulnerability of populations and infrastructure to flooding.

CGD