Red Cross responds to floods

Cameroon’s Red Cross has started to prepare local communities in the southwest of the country against further mishaps, following recent floods which claimed about 30 lives, the International Federation of the Red Cross said on Wednesday.

“Volunteers will help in disinfecting wells, digging and repairing drainage ditches. Additional training is planned for volunteers in water sanitation,” a report published on the federation’s website said.

The report said the Cameroon Red Cross Society in Limbe was able to mount a swift response to the floods that swept the southwestern town on 27 June even though the society itself was a victim of the disaster.

“We had to abandon the office quickly, and we lost most of our supplies,” Catherine Eposi Meboka, who heads the Red Cross’ Limbe branch, was quoted as saying. Its ability to quickly mobilise the volunteers who helped evacuate the most vulnerable people - the elderly, women and children - was attributed to emphasis since last year on disaster preparedness.