Cotonou is under water. In some quarters the water stands 1,5 meters high in the houses, flooding the septic tanks, epidemic diseases and a malaria peak are threatening. The mayor has declared emergency state and asked the international community for help.
Parts of the city, including the airport (which is not flooded though), are below sea level, and floods occur regularly during rainy season. In the past several years they seem to develop a circular pattern, with an especially severe flood every four years. What is worse, the impact of the flood gets more severe. In the recent past, pressure on the housing market has been such that more and more houses have been built in the surrounding swamps. Flood protection basins have been dismantled in order to get construction material, or filled up to create space. Law enforcement apparently does not work. Even in the protected, higher quarters, the roads have transformed into groundless strips of mud. People take things in their own hands and dig drainage ditches into the roads, thus adding to the general deterioration of the routes. Whoever has family members or friends in the upper part of the city, will temporarily live with them or at least send their children. The others have to rely on public relief services.
Yet, after so many years of regular once-a-year flood, it still seems to come as a surprise for the local authorities. In half-baked TV spots, the mayor of Cotonou announces extensive construction of flood protection facilities. Overall this is just another example of missing urban planning, lack of tax income and mismanagement.
People bear this with extraordinary self control and courage. While everybody is severely pissed off, you will never hear them badmouthing each other.
Here is one of the more cheerful sights of flooded Cotonou. Luckily I have the possibility to leave Cotonou for the more agreeable hills of Natitingou.
Parts of the city, including the airport (which is not flooded though), are below sea level, and floods occur regularly during rainy season. In the past several years they seem to develop a circular pattern, with an especially severe flood every four years. What is worse, the impact of the flood gets more severe. In the recent past, pressure on the housing market has been such that more and more houses have been built in the surrounding swamps. Flood protection basins have been dismantled in order to get construction material, or filled up to create space. Law enforcement apparently does not work. Even in the protected, higher quarters, the roads have transformed into groundless strips of mud. People take things in their own hands and dig drainage ditches into the roads, thus adding to the general deterioration of the routes. Whoever has family members or friends in the upper part of the city, will temporarily live with them or at least send their children. The others have to rely on public relief services.
Yet, after so many years of regular once-a-year flood, it still seems to come as a surprise for the local authorities. In half-baked TV spots, the mayor of Cotonou announces extensive construction of flood protection facilities. Overall this is just another example of missing urban planning, lack of tax income and mismanagement.
People bear this with extraordinary self control and courage. While everybody is severely pissed off, you will never hear them badmouthing each other.
Here is one of the more cheerful sights of flooded Cotonou. Luckily I have the possibility to leave Cotonou for the more agreeable hills of Natitingou.
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