CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Army rescues flood victims while aid continues to flow in

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

BANGUI, 29 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - For the last three days more than 50 soldiers from the Central Africa Republic's (CAR) army have been rescuing victims from flooding which began earlier in August in the southern and eastern neighbourhoods of the country’s capital, Bangui.

"We have instructions to help people in the flood areas," Col Richard Youmbi, the head of the operation, told IRIN on Friday.

"We must continue until the main drain pipe leading to the river has been unblocked," he said.

Many homes are flooded and others have collapsed following torrential rains that have battered Bangui. National Red Cross Coordinator Alphonse Zarambaud said at least 3,000 homes were now affected by rain water.

"This latest figure brings the number of homeless people to more than 15,000," he said.

Zarambaud said further assessments would be made soon to ascertain the exact number of people in need of shelter and other support.

Last week France donated 25,000 euros (US $30,590) for medicine to combat malaria, typhoid, and other parasites and respiratory diseases. Four associations of CAR citizens residing in France and the Association of the African Diaspora have set up an umbrella group to collect and channel aid.

"We are collecting drugs and funds and identifying NGOs that can distribute them to the victims," Clotaire Saulet-Saurungba, one of the founders of the umbrella group called Collectif d’Associations des Centrafricains de France, said on Monday from Paris.

Saulet-Saurungba said that the CAR Red Cross was amongst one of the local groups that could be trusted to distribution the aid.

[ENDS]