The Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Jean Baptiste Tine, announced during the RTS television news an Emergency Response Plan to the floods affecting several regions of Senegal due to the overflowing of the Senegal and Gambia rivers . This plan aims to provide immediate aid to affected populations, particularly in terms of food, shelter and medical care.
Jean Baptiste Tine specified that support actions include sending medical and relief teams to the affected areas, as well as the distribution of food and tents to shelter families whose homes have been flooded.
“The governors of the regions concerned are already mobilized and will issue a pre-alert notice,” he declared, insisting on vigilance and calm in the impacted areas.
Floods, caused by exceptional rises in water levels due to heavy rains and the effects of climate change, particularly affect five regions: Kédougou, Tambacounda, Matam, Saint-Louis and Kolda. According to the minister, many houses were flooded and crops destroyed, forcing some populations to take refuge in public buildings, such as health posts.
The Minister of the Interior also stressed that the alert levels have been exceeded in certain areas, in particular in Matam and Tambacounda, where material damage is already significant. He warned that the Saint-Louis region could soon be affected, while a flood wave is expected in the coming days in Bakel, risking worsening the situation.
Jean Baptiste Tine expressed the government’s solidarity with the affected populations and promised the arrival of an interministerial delegation on the ground to assess the situation and provide more lasting aid.
He stressed the importance of preparing lasting measures to limit the impact of these floods in the future.
“In coordination with the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS) and that of the Gambia River (OMVG), the government is closely monitoring the evolution of water levels and is increasing efforts to protect populations from these natural disasters,” said General Tine.
