Par Amadou Thiam
Matam, Oct 8 (APS) – Hectares of rice growing areas and homes under water. For several weeks, the scene has been identical in certain villages of Dandé Mayo Nord, a part of the Matam region located on the banks of the Senegal River, which experienced a strong flood this year.
As a result of the heavy flooding, the canoe remains the only solution for those who want to go to Orefondé, a village in the Matam department located on the RN2.
To access this village, you must pass through Ndouloumadji, taking one of the three bridges of the department which connects the walo (term designating the lands of the valley flooded by the waters of the river) and the diéry (lands not flooded by the waters of the river). waters of the river).
From this structure, crossing of which is prohibited for heavy goods vehicles, we can easily measure the speed of the flood wave and clearly distinguish the lapping of the water. The air becomes more humid.
The river water, as it rose, invaded agricultural areas and a football field in the village.
Hundreds of meters away, the village called Virage reveals its huts. Past this village, the track becomes impassable. The traveler must hold on to avoid falling. On both sides of the track, we can measure the extent of the flood.
On the laterite, the force of the current spared nothing in its passage. Bags of earth and other large stones could not withstand the force of the water.
About ten kilometers later, several vehicles were stopped, shortly before Nguidjilone, on the orders of a group of people working to repair the track. All passengers in minibuses, private vehicles and even a delegation from SAED, the Senegal River Delta Land Development and Exploitation Company, must wait before continuing their journey.
A smell of fresh fish comes from some cars. Exasperated, one of the owners of the fish crates screams in all her anger. She can’t stand it when the young people and adults who repair the track stop the cars to continue working.
“We have to return to our villages to sell our fish and earn some money. If you prevent us from passing through, you will make us lose money, because the products risk deteriorating,” she fumes.
The water flows at a very high speed, a force which the earth bags serving as a dike can barely resist. Everyone tries as much as possible to avoid getting bogged down. Young people try to explain to the regional SAED delegate the merits of their approach.
Sandbags, stones and other materials
“We cannot let you pass and prevent others, even if you are on a mission. We stopped the vehicle of a marabout who agreed to stop. We just want to put sandbags and stones to make the road a little passable,” shouts an adult, probably the leader of the group.
A white vehicle transporting stones and sandbags waits to lower its load. After reversing, the driver positions his vehicle to allow the village residents to remove the bags and stones they use to backfill the road.
After several minutes of explanation with passengers, the SAED delegation and other travelers, the road is open. A driver, annoyed by this situation, deplores the blocking of the track. “No one is going to pay anything,” he says.
The marabout, whose vehicle had parked a little apart, continues on his way, escorted by a group of people.
Less than a kilometer away is the base of the company in charge of building the Dandé Mayo north road.
At the entrance to Nguidilone, houses, schools and mosques are flooded.
On the other side of the road, an uninhabited area is also under water. In the distance, the agricultural areas are literally covered with water. A situation which contrasts with the rest of the village, spared by the fury of the river.
This same scenery is almost visible all along the Dandé Mayo Nord road. In Diowol, the river and the arm of the river become one, swallowing up the fine sand of Bilbassi.
On the lateritic and sometimes bumpy path, where speed bumps made of sandbags and ropes slow down vehicles, the view of the river gives a glimpse of the consequences of rising waters.
In Nguidilone, it is the entrance to the village which is the part most impacted by the overflowing of the Senegal River. On the other hand, in Sinthiou Diam Dioro, in the commune of Dabia, the entire village is submerged.
Arriving at the height of a road, we see a stopped bus. It got bogged down at the very beginning of the river overflowing. This transport vehicle called “hourly” provided service between Dakar and northern Dandé Mayo.
Sinthiou Diam Dioro, most impacted locality
“We can say that almost 95% of the village is under water. All the mud buildings have fallen, only the cement constructions remain,” explains Moussa Diaw, a resident of the village.
Diaw came to meet the general director of SAED visiting the agricultural areas of Sinthiou Diam Dioro which are spared by the waters.
Bati Sow, a resident of the village, said she had difficulty leaving the village, because of the overflowing of the river, which, according to her, did not spare part of the cemeteries.
“To get around the village, go to the shop or the market, people take canoes,” she says. She deplores the fact that the ministers who were in the region on Thursday did not come to Sinthiou Diam Dioro, considered to be the locality most impacted by the flood.
But the situation is more critical in the Dandé Mayo Nord area located behind Orefondé. The bridge connecting the Walo to the Diéry is submerged, preventing the passage of cars.
Even in Oréfondé, the water reached the edges of certain houses.
It is here that those who go to Dandé Mayo come to take canoes. What was dry land has become a place for boats, making bank a place of life. Businesses are developing there with the sale of peanuts, cold water and other drinks. The overflowing of the river also delights the carters.
From National Road number 2 (RN 2) to the crossing point, each passenger leaving for Dandé Mayo must pay 100 CFA francs to borrow a cart.
On the shore, two motor canoes have docked while waiting to find customers. ”Transport can take up to an hour. Arriving at Diorbivol, the passenger who wants to continue takes a vehicle. Only those who are in this village take a canoe again,” explains a canoeist.
AT/ASB/OID/FKS/ASG
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