Benin Declares State of Emergency Over Floods

Benin has declared a state of emergency and called for international humanitarian aid after floods hit the south of the West African country.

The government estimates that some 2,000 families have already been displaced by flooding caused by heavy rains and it appealed late Monday for immediate help to prevent the imminent spread of epidemics.
Forecasts by the African Center of Meteorological Application for Development for July to September 2009, suggest a high probability of rainfall higher than normal in these countries.

Global aid agency Oxfam warned this week that poor communities across Africa, Asia and Latin America were being hit hard by effects of global warming, with rainfall becoming shorter and more erratic in many places.

Planet Ark