Red Cross in aid appeal for 350 flood victims

The Central African Republic Red Cross Society said on Wednesday urgent humanitarian aid was needed for 350 flood victims in the northeastern town of Sibut. "These people urgently need food, blankets, utensils, drugs and tents to build temporary homes," Mohamed Daffane, the Red Cross chairman, told IRIN. He said appeals had already been made to UN agencies for various types of aid. The representative of the UN World Food Programme, David Bulman, told IRIN that he and the minister of social affairs would on Thursday assess the situation of the victims. The victims, 150 of whom are children under 15 years old, were left homeless when flash floods swept through their community, destroying 25 homes and leaving another 37 inundated. There were no casualties. Massive looting of CAR Red Cross property in the aftermath of a rebellion that ended in March has left the society unable to respond to emergencies, despite its 10,000 volunteers in 14 of the country's 16 provinces.