Aurore Bonny
August 28, 2020•Update: August 28, 2020
DOUALA, Cameroon
Floods in the times of COVID-19 pandemic has come to a double whammy for the central African country of Cameroon, snapping rail and road networks in the worst-hit coastal region.
Videos circulating on social media platforms show waters invading habitats and people trying to save their hard-earned belongings. According to Samuel Ivaha Diboua, Littoral region’s governor, 900 families have been rendered homeless.
While Cameroon had eased coronavirus lockdown restrictions by opening schools and other centers in June to revive the economy, the floods have affected businesses severely.
Serge Tresor Ngatchi, a young Cameroonian entrepreneur had established a chicken breeding startup a year ago in Douala, the country’s commercial capital. While pandemic had already slowed down his business, the floods have devastated his farm.
In the wee hours on Aug. 21, strong winds accompanying the rain knocked down a tree near his chicken farm, clogging the drainage pipes by dragged sand into them.
"The water, which had no way to flow, went through the grates of my farm and drowned all 2,000 chickens. The flood destroyed all the infrastructure," a sobbing Ngatchi told Anadolu Agency.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Roger Mbassa Ndine, Douala’s mayor said the floods resulted due to heavy rains filling the drains and also because of the overflow of the Wouri River. The country received 37% of the monthly rainfall in just three days, according to Simplice Tchinda Tazo, director of National Meteorology.
The natural causes were compounded by manmade tinkering, which included archaic and unhealthy conditions of drains, that get clogged too often with a drop of rain.
"Because of poor construction in swamps, water finds itself forcing its way and seeping into open areas and in habitats and populations," said Jacqueline Elisabeth Mbocksi, a Cameroonian urban planner.
The marine weather forecast about heavy rainfall and high tides over the next six to seven days has sent has created a further scare in the region.
Clogged gutters responsible for floods
Douala’s Mayor Ndine said he has issued several orders, including regular cleaning of the gutters, the establishment of a crisis committee to manage the situation, and also to dispense aid to help victims.
According to the government, so far 800 flood victims have received aid in Douala and nearby Edeam, where the floods caused two deaths.
But activists and officials said the country needs long-term planning to avoid such situations. The metrological department head said it was necessary to integrate weather information into daily activities and plan in advance and not just act at the time of events.
Mbocksi, also said that strong awareness campaigns were needed the country's media to sensitize the public and convince people not to clog drainage pipes with plastic and other things. Further, she said over time, building habitats on the swampy areas have also taken a toll on the city and blocked the flow of waters.
The commercial capital Douala mayor said the city needs 240 kilometers (149 miles) of drains to cope with floods.
Cabral Libii, Cameroonian politician and a candidate in the last presidential election said the funds disbursed during emergencies can be used to prevent disasters. He said the government was waking up only when the disasters struck and does not do enough to prevent their recurrence.
