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Floods Devastate Africa

Deluge triggers humanitarian crisis

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 20, 2007 3:04 AM CDT

(Newser) – Several of Africa's poorest countries have been devastated by a catastrophic deluge of rain, washing away lives, communities and crops. As many as 18 of the normally driest countries in the world, from Senegal, Mauritania, Mali and Burkina Faso in the west, to Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia in the east, will be inundated with floods for weeks.

"We believe at least 650,000 homes have been destroyed, 1.5 million people affected and nearly 200 people drowned," said a United Nations spokeswoman. "This is harvest time for many countries and there are already food shortages."

Aerial view of the floods effecting the Katawki district of eastern Uganda, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Across Africa, torrential downpours and flash floods have submerged whole towns and washed away bridges,... (Associated Press)

An aerial view of flooded parts of Teso sub region, in north eastern Uganda, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007. Torrential downpours and flash floods across Africa have submerged whole towns and washed away bridges,... (Associated Press)

Members of the public are stranded on one side of the road after the bridge at Mrima, Mombasa, Kenya, was washed away by heavy floods Sunday, Feb.11, 2007. Torrential downpours and flash floods across... (Associated Press)

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Floods Devastate Africa

Deluge triggers humanitarian crisis

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US Flying Armed Drones Out of Ethiopia Base

Ethiopia denies US presence, Air Force doesn't

Ethiopia: 4.5M Need Food Aid

$400M, or 380 tons of food, needed in Eastern Africa

Horn of Africa Close to Famine

An estimated 12M people in jeopardy

Natural Disasters Displaced 42M in 2010

Reported natural disasters have doubled in past two decades

River Overflows Missouri Levee; Collapse Feared

Severe storms won't let up in soaked Ohio, Miss. River valleys

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Deluge triggers humanitarian crisis

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

African Deluge

Africa • Kenya • Sudan • Ethiopia • flood • rain • natural disaster • Senegal

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

US Flying Armed Drones Out of Ethiopia Base

Ethiopia denies US presence, Air Force doesn't

Ethiopia: 4.5M Need Food Aid

$400M, or 380 tons of food, needed in Eastern Africa

Horn of Africa Close to Famine

An estimated 12M people in jeopardy

Natural Disasters Displaced 42M in 2010

Reported natural disasters have doubled in past two decades

River Overflows Missouri Levee; Collapse Feared

Severe storms won't let up in soaked Ohio, Miss. River valleys

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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What is Newser?