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The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has launched an appeal for two million Swiss francs for the victims of floods that have destroyed homes, farms and infrastructure in eight West African countries.
The Federation said on Friday that the money would be used to support relief operations by the region’s Red Cross societies and help 77,000 people for three months to overcome the effects of heavy rains, flash floods and tropical storms that have hit West Africa since July.
The eight worst affected countries, the IFRC said, are Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.
“It is now planned to supply flood victims with food, with household goods, tents and blankets to help the most vulnerable as they struggle to rebuild their lives,” IFRC said.
“Health education messages will be disseminated by Red Cross volunteers, since in the period following floods there is a high risk of epidemics, particularly of diarrhoeal diseases and malaria,” it added.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
