5 Sep 2012

NIGER / FLOODS

Niger is suffering its worst floods in years. Weeks of heavy rain have affected about 400,000 people and killed more than 50. Families have been made homeless and crops have been washed away in the deluge. UNICEF

Posted at: September 5, 2012 6:04 pm

Duration: 02:45

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: NIGER FLOODS
TRT: 2.45
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 28 AUGUST 2012, SARANDO GANDA, NIGER

SHOTLIST:

1. Various shots, flooded village
2. Various shots, damaged homes
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Seyni Hamadou Sani, Chief of Sarando Ganda Village:  
"So far, we have counted 272 collapsed houses. Entire fields have been destroyed by the floods."
4. Various shots, villagers in flood conditions
5. Various shots, emergency supplies being distributed
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Hamadou Tinni, UNICEF Supply Assistant: 
"These are very brave people. They cultivate and produce throughout the year, compared to other parts of Niger where people grow only during rainy season. The advantage of this village is its access to water, because they are near the river. Agricultural production is highly diversified providing means of income. They supply the city of Niamey with produce and now they have nothing, no harvest, no source of income."
7. Various shots, flooding

STORYLINE:

Niger is suffering its worst floods in years. Weeks of heavy rain have affected about 400,000 people and killed more than fifty.

In Sarando Ganda, a village on the Niger River on the outskirts of Niamey, many of the mud-brick houses have collapsed or are severely damaged. Seventy per cent of families are homeless.

SOUNDBITE (French) Seyni Hamadou Sani, Chief of Sarando Ganda Village
"So far, we have counted 272 collapsed houses. Entire fields have been destroyed by the floods."

In these devastating conditions, children are susceptible to diarrhea and malaria. In one week, the village had 53 cases of malaria and patients had to be evacuated to clinics in nearby villages.

UNICEF is providing immediate emergency assistance for flood victims. But the longterm consequences will also be severe, vital crops have been lost.

SOUNDBITE (French) Hamadou Tinni, UNICEF Supply Assistant: 
"These are very brave people. They cultivate and produce throughout the year, compared to other parts of Niger where people grow only during rainy season. The advantage of this village is its access to water, because they are near the river. Agricultural production is highly diversified providing means of income. They supply the city of Niamey with produce and now they have nothing, no harvest, no source of income."

These devastating floods are just the latest in a series of disasters to hit Niger. Flood areas have also seen an influx of refugees fleeing conflict in neighbouring Mali.

UNICEF is working with its partners to identify and prioritize needs, and it's calling on the international community to mobilize more resources to help families in Niger get back on their feet.