Additional aid to Bangui's flood victims

The UN says its Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has authorised an emergency grant of almost US $18,000 for nearly 20,000 people affected by August's flooding in the Central African Republic's (CAR) capital, Bangui. "UN agencies have already provided therapeutic high-nutrition biscuits, water purification tablets, jerry cans for clean water, and petrol lamps, which have been distributed through the national Red Cross," UN News reported on Wednesday. The worst affected areas were in the neighbourhoods of Sapeke, Bruxelles, Kangala and Petevo, along the southern banks of the Ubangui River, the CAR's Red Cross Society programme coordinator, Alphonse Zarambaud, said in August. The Red Cross and the government have asked for UN aid in providing food, medicines, kitchen utensils, mosquito nets, clothing, blankets, sanitation materials, as well as construction materials for emergency rehabilitation, UN news said. It said over 2,500 homes have been ruined by the floods. Zarambaud said in August that the situation could worsen further with more rainfall expected in September and October.