MWR : MCC helps Burkina Faso flood victims

Last updated November 24.

Send letters to the editor, or suggestions for our stories or Web site, to MWR‘s editors.

Sept. 28, 2009 issue

Print this article.

Comment on this article

MCC helps Burkina Faso flood victims

By Linda Espenshade Mennonite Central Committee

When Levy Madjibe visits victims of flooding in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, he hears the same story repeatedly.

September flooding in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, was particularly destructive for mud brick homes, like the two pictured here. As the water rose, walls of the houses collapsed, and the families who lived there took refuge in a nearby school. — Photo by Anne Garber Kompaore

People were surprised by the water and have lost everything, they tell Madjibe, a Mennonite Central Committee representative for Burkina Faso and Chad. MCC has pledged $20,000 and is accepting additional donations.

MCC’s eight national staff, five MCC service workers and the five children of MCC workers are safe, although the flooding destroyed several walls around staff members’ houses.

A storm that dropped 12 inches of water in 12 hours caused widespread flooding in the capital city Sept. 1. Residents were shocked as water overflowed the city reservoir and spillways and swept away cars, bridges and homes.

Residents are used to two hours of rain most days between June and October, but there had not been such extensive rain and flooding since 1927, Madjibe said.

At least 150,000 people were affected by the flooding, according to the United Nations News Centre, and 50,000 are seeking refuge in schools, churches and other public buildings.

“Entire neighborhoods of mud houses, especially on the edges of town, were completely wiped out,” wrote Anne Garber Kompaore, who serves with Mennonite Mission Network as a Bible translation consultant for the Burkina Bible Society and the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso.

Comment on the article MCC helps Burkina Faso flood victims

The purpose of comments is to engage in dialogue. We expect commenters to treat authors and each other as each would want to be treated. Respectful criticism is welcomed; offensive comments or parts of comments will be removed by the site administrator. Name and comment will be posted; email address is for follow-up only and will not be made public.