Hit by heavy rains in late August, Niamey is partly under water. Several districts were strongly impacted with over 350,000 victims. The Veolia Foundation responded to the situation by sending Veoliaforce volunteers and equipment in partnership with the Société d’Exploitation des Eaux du Niger.
Niger has experienced record flooding for a few weeks. In Niamey, the Niger River exceeded its alert level at the end of August. Many buildings collapsed, killing dozens of people and leaving many people homeless as the vast majority of the capital's population of 1.5 million live on the banks of the river.
To help them, the Veolia Foundation and the Société d’Exploitation des Eaux du Niger (SEEN, Veolia) took action after one of the water production stations shut down.
A team of Veoliaforce volunteers from the Foundation arrived on 14 September and some eleven tonnes of relief supplies were dispatched in just a few days. Thanks to the work of SEEN and Foundation personnel, three Aquaforces 5000 mobile water purification units were ready for operation in 48 hours. Bacteriological analyses confirmed the quality of the water produced and distribution began on 18 September.
The facilities produce 100 to 150 m3 of water, or 100,000 to 150,000 litres each day. The water is distributed by the local authorities and Médecins Sans Frontières, one of the Foundation’s regular partners in humanitarian responses. Veoliaforce volunteers trained SEEN personnel in the use of the Aquaforces before leaving.
* Agence nigérienne de presse.