The Far-North region of Cameroon is entering the rainy season which generally causes loss of human lives and materials due to several floods
Every year flood crisis in the Far-North is deemed exceptional given its unprecedented geographic expansion. Indeed, from the month of August, torrential rains begin in this region with an important peak which usually causes floods and substantial damage, like the collapse of bridge as was the case in Maroua last year affecting the Logone and Chari, Mayo-Sava, Mayo-Danay, Mayo-Kani Divisions.
The region always suffer from devastating effects of the floods, both material ( destroyed houses, devastating farms, loss of animals, destruction of road infrastructure, reducing mobility and accessibility in certain zones) and human unlike the displacement of people and even the entire villages as well as the loss of human lives. Last year 2020, about 5000 people were homeless due to the widespread of flooding in several districts.
The main cause being observed is that of the geographical relief of the area which feature flood zones anticipate that the rain in the Logone and Chari and the Diamare division flow into the Mayo-Kani and Mayo-Danay valleys. Also the anarchic construction of houses on the water passage, the incivism of the population who block the evacuation routes with household garbage and even the poor quality of runoff water pipes sometimes non-existing in certain towns like Kousseri.
From 2014 to 2020, the flood emergency project was implemented. The project rehabilitated about 70 Km of the Logone dyke, 27 Km of the Maga Dam and partially 7500 hectares of irrigation schemes.
But much still need to be done like a resettlement action plan for the populations instead of the usual all-at-once approach that used to regroup people on one site after that they return to the same zones. Multiply innovative solutions by fixing key hydraulic infrastructures.
The climate forecast of the climatology and data bank service should be effective on the predictions of floods during the rainy season.
Many actors like humanitarian communities and UN agencies have been mobilizing to provide support to the affected communities but a significant gap in coverage still need to be done most especially as the region suffers from high vulnerability due to poverty and chronic under development compounded by insecurity and the devastating effects of clashes between security forces and armed groups in the lake chad basin talk less of tribal wars witnessing internal displacement.
