Flooding along the Senegal River has left 3,825 people affected in the eastern Bakel department, prompting an urgent government response to provide shelter, food, and logistical support.
Heavy rainfall in the upper Senegal River basin, particularly near Bafing Makana and Gourbassi, combined with water releases from the Manantali dam, caused the river to overflow in multiple areas, officials said. Homes, farms, public buildings, places of worship, and key roads were submerged, with many transport routes rendered impassable.
“The situation is more pronounced in the district of Moudéry, particularly in the localities of Ballou, Aroundou, Yaféra, Golmy, Kounghany, and Diawara,” the government press release noted.
Initial assessments counted 220 affected families, representing 3,825 individuals.
Of these, 178 families were displaced, with 27 temporarily housed in local schools.
State services, including the army, gendarmerie, and firefighters, were deployed immediately under the coordination of the Governor of Tambacounda, the Prefect of Bakel, and the Sub-Prefect of Moudéry, working alongside local authorities to support affected communities.
Emergency measures included the opening of an open-air warehouse near the riverbank for donation management, the provision of sandbags for dike construction, and the distribution of life jackets and canoes to secure river transport.
Eight tents were installed—five in Diawara and three in Aroundou—for temporary accommodation.
A second batch of relief supplies en route to Bakel includes 1,000 mattresses, 12 tents, 200 mosquito nets, 20 motor pumps, 1,000 litres of fuel, 10 tonnes of rice, 2 tonnes of sugar, 2,000 litres of oil, 500 kilograms of milk, 500 boxes of soap, and 500 five-litre bottles of water.
The Ministry of Hydraulics and Sanitation confirmed that additional measures are planned to support communities across the Senegal River Valley, including the Matam, Kanel, and Podor regions.
“These interventions form part of broader structural efforts, including the construction of the Yaféra dike and rehabilitation of Bakel’s ponds and backwaters,” officials said.
The projects aim to reduce future flood risks and enhance the resilience of communities along the river.
As waters continue to rise, authorities are urging vigilance, while relief operations intensify to assist the thousands displaced and ensure basic needs are met.
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