Several districts of Ndjamena were under water after the heavy rains that have fallen in recent days on the capital. No assessment of the damage has been communicated by the authorities, but a crisis meeting was held on Wednesday August 3 around Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacké. In the meantime, the inhabitants of certain arrondissements, in particular the 7th and 9th arrondissements, must manage.
In the Amtoukiou district, the inhabitants have their feet in the water, noted our correspondent in Ndjamena, Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula. Shovel in hand, Emmanuel, exhausted, tries to save his house. ” Our house is all broken, and downright full of water. I am digging [pour évacuer l’eau]. »
His neighbour, wet boubou on his back and feet in the mud, is desperate. His house has just collapsed. ” I do not have anything. Of the five rooms I had, I have two left and they are falling apart. My children sleep on a mat that we put in the middle of the yard. I don’t even have the words anymore. I lost everything ! »
A little further on, Armand notices the damage in his house. ” All the clothes, the sofas, are completely wet. The documents are unrecoverable, on the floor. Everything is swallowed up by water. »
Residents say they are worried because the rainy season has only just begun. Fatimé, she does not lose her temper… “ Every year, it’s the same thing. Water is rising in our homes. We are inundated and nothing is being done to improve things. I lost everything. They don’t bring us mats, blankets, mosquito nets, or even tea. Nothing at all ! It’s like we don’t exist for the authorities. »
The town hall of Ndjamena did not respond to our interview requests, but ensures that response plans are being put in place to help the victims.
► To read also: Rainy season in Chad: in Ndjamena, associations are mobilizing to prevent damage
Rural areas replenished with water
Meanwhile, the inhabitants of rural areas are rejoicing, further north, of these exceptional rains in the south of the country. Because they will refloat the rivers and therefore the lake chad basinon which 40 million people depend, as explained by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Urban and Rural Hydraulics, Mahamat Alifa Moussa.
” Lake Chad has lost 90% of its surface area, while it supports more than 40 million people in its conventional basin. So this rain is of capital importance, because it makes it possible to replenish Lake Chad and the other rivers, and it also allows the replenishment of groundwater. This abundant rain also makes it possible to practice seasonal rainfed agriculture, which is the main activity of more than 78% of the Chadian population. This water is welcome ! »