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Benin declares emergency in tackling flood

Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - The Beninese government has declared a state of emergency in dealing with floods caused by torrential rains over the country, especially in the southern part of the country, according to a statement release d Tuesday by the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security. According to the statement, which was made available to PANA, "Benin officially declares a state of emergency and asks for help from the international community in a bid to forestall epidemics, allay suffering of the victims and immediately r estore normality." The torrential rains across the country in the past weeks have caused major dama ges, especially in the south. Economic activities, including farming transportation, communication as well as power and water supply are also badly affected. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes, and are mostly being a ccommodated by their relatives. The statement said people are also being moved from the worst affected areas to forestall the outbreak and spread of diseases such as malaria and cholera.

Cotonou - 07/07/2009

Ghana : Rains force Obama event venue shift

07 Jul 2009

The public engagement of US President Barack Obama in Accra, where he is to make a major policy statement on Africa, has been shifted from the Independence Square to the International Conference Centre because of the uncertainty of the weather. The Communications Director at the Presidency, Mr Koku Anyidoho, told the Daily Graphic that the government was concerned that rains might disrupt the programme scheduled to take place on Saturday. Mr Anyidoho said from the reading of the weather, the state ought to be saved from the embarrassment of the rain disrupting the programme since the international spotlight would be on Ghana during the visit. Besides, he said, it would amount to "a waste of resources" to the state if the government mounted tents, arranged seats and decorated the Independence Square only for the programme to be disrupted by the rain.

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Copyright, Blaise APLOGAN, 2008,© Bienvenu sur Babilown