West African Drought, Flood, Famine and Tropical Disease Relief

In 2009 alone, hundreds of people died and over 600,000 in 15 West African countries lost their homes, belongings, crops, and in some cases their entire neighborhood or village to the biggest flood in more than a century, bigger than the great flood of 1919. Burkina Faso was reported to be the hardest hit country.

In 2010 floods again devastated many regions of West Africa including Burkina Faso. In 2011 and 2013 the harvests were moderate. In 2012 drought returned, with ensuing crop failures—reminiscent of the great 7-year drought of 1967-73—thus putting hundreds of thousands of West Africans at risk.

Our organization has African volunteers and distribution channels in place in the city of Ouagadougou, in Koupela town and in villages of the Kouritenga Province, in Burkina Faso, so we can get help to the people on the ground. We use the money to buy supplies made and grown locally (cotton blankets, non-toxic mosquito nets, and organic food: millet, sorghum, beans and corn) to support the local African economy and avoid needlessly paying to fly things in from overseas.

It’s a matter of getting the maximum use of contributions to benefit the people in need and distributing existing supplies from towns and villages in the region that weren’t hit by floods or drought to the affected cities and villages. With drought or flood, conditions are dire.

Even in relatively moderate years, without drought or flood, many families struggle for survival. We aim to help children and families avoid hunger and famine and thus we continue to make this appeal for your assistance.

Hundreds of people have died and upwards of 860,000 in 15 West African countries have been affected, with over 600,000 made homeless: losing their belongings, crops, livestock, pets, bicycles, vehicles and livelihood. Entire neighborhoods and villages were devastated by the deluge of September 1, 2009. For millions of West Africans this was the biggest flood in over a century.

We use donations to buy organic cotton blankets and non-toxic mosquito nets, organic millet, beans, corn and sorghum – all purchased locally to avoid costly airlifts and waste. It’s a matter of distributing existing supplies from areas that have not been devastated by crop failure, floods or drought to children and families in affected cities and villages. This supports the ancient art of African weaving, sustainable organic farming, the existing local economy, and provides relief for the people who need it.

Our organization has distribution channels in place in the city of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, so we can get help directly to the people on the ground.

Watch the videos below, and please make a tax deductible donation!

UNPRECEDENTED DELUGE From the Cape Verde Islands and Dakar, Senegal in the western region of West Africa to Agadez, Niger in the east, from Rosso, Mauritania in the north to Bolgatanga, Ghana in the south: unprecedented deluge.
Agadez, Niger, on the southern reaches of the Sahara Desert: Unusually heavy rainfall provoked the rupture of a dyke, resulting in the destruction of livestock, crops and several thousand houses. 80,000 affected by the floods.
In Nigeria, many communities in at least 13 of its 36 states were flooded: Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Benue, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, and Taraba. The toll: over 100,000 homeless.

THE GREATEST FLOOD IN LIVING MEMORY
Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, a city twice the size and population of San Francisco, was one of the hardest hit communities. One-third of its annual rainfall in less than 12 hours. Six quartiers (districts) were flooded, leaving 150,000 people homeless. This was Burkina Faso’s biggest flood ever recorded, going back over a century. Bigger than the great flood of 1919.

Our team of African volunteers distribute food, blankets and mosquito nets to those in need. They need your help.

PLEASE HELP NOW!

August and September 2010 brought more devastating floods to West Africa.

In 2012 drought returned to West Africa, reminiscent of the seven-year drought from 1967-1974, the greatest drought in living memory that brought famine to millions of Africans. The struggle continues.

Your tax-deductible contribution will help continue our drought, flood, famine and tropical disease relief effort in West Africa.

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