• Government approves $4.5 mln emergency package for flood-affected families
• $1.8 mln to fund drainage works, $2.7 mln for food aid, shelter, and logistics
• Floods continue to threaten food security and displace thousands in Senegal

The Senegalese government announced on September 19 an emergency package of CFA2.5 billion ($4.5 million) to assist populations affected by recent floods.

According to the ministry, $1.8 million will be allocated to urgent drainage works to clear stagnant water, while $2.7 million will go to direct assistance, including food distribution, shelter equipment, and logistical support.

Senegal continues to face major structural challenges, including food insecurity and recurring floods.

In 2024, exceptional flooding of the Senegal River displaced more than 56,000 people in the east of the country. In the Matam region alone, over 55,600 residents were directly affected, losing farmland, livestock, and infrastructure. More than 16,000 hectares of cropland were submerged, undermining food security for nearly 250,000 people dependent on agriculture.

To address these risks, the government announced in August the launch of a National Flood Prevention and Management Program running through 2035. The plan covers sanitation, rainwater management, and land-use planning, with a focus on vulnerable areas such as Touba, Kaolack, and the banks of the Senegal and Gambia rivers.

According to the State of the Climate in Africa 2023 report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), African countries lose between 2% and 5% of GDP each year due to extreme weather events such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, cyclones, and droughts.