Even rainfall in the Sahel

Rainfall was evenly distributed in September in most of the Sahel, the FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) said in its latest situation report. There was abundant rainfall in Burkina Faso, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal in the first 20 days of September, said the 11 October report. In the next 10 days, the rains stopped in northwest Senegal and central Chad but continued elsewhere, it added. High water levels in the Senegal and Niger rivers caused floods, especially in Mauritania, it said. On Wednesday, AFP quoted Communications Minister, Rachid Ould Saleh, as saying Mauritania would not seek external aid for its flood victims. Satellite photos for the first 10 days of October, GIEWS said, showed cloud cover over most producing areas of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Senegal. However, there were fewer clouds over north-eastern Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger. “Overall, good harvests are anticipated in most countries,” according to the report. However, pest infestations - grasshoppers, blister beetles and floral insects - have been reported in Cape Verde, Niger and Senegal. GIEWS said a “small outbreak” of desert locusts was reported in northern Mali and, to a lesser extent, Mauritania but no significant developments were expected elsewhere.