An aid operation has begun in the West African state of Niger following floods that have left more than 125,000 people homeless. The aid agency Plan International says at least 65 people died when heavy rains hit the capital Niamey earlier this month. Our Africa editor Martin Plaut reports.
西非国家尼日尔发生洪灾,导致12.5万多人无家可归,目前援助行动已经开始。援助机构国际计划称,本月早时候大雨袭击首都尼亚美,导致至少65人丧生。BBC驻非洲编辑Martin Plaut报道。
The torrential rains which swept across the country earlier this month resulted in the River Niger rising to levels not seen since the 1920s. Sixty-five people were drowned as villages along the banks were inundated by the brown, swirling water. Homes collapsed, farm animals were killed and thousands of families lost almost everything they owned. Now the first help has arrived. The UN is calling for further donations of food, tents and household goods.
本月早些时候,这场暴雨袭击了整个国家,导致尼罗河水位上涨到20世纪20年代以来最高点。河岸两边的村庄都被褐黄色漩涡的流水冲毁,65人被淹死。家园被毁,农场动物淹死,几千户人家几乎失去了一切。目前第一批援助已经到达,联合国正呼吁捐赠更多食物、帐篷和日常用品。
Reports from Ivory Coast say the secretary general of former President Laurent Gbagbo's party has been arrested – the third senior party official to be detained in just over a week. A spokesman for the Ivorian Popular Front said police took Laurent Akoun into custody in Adzope north Abidjan. Government sources alleged he is implicated in attacks on government troops.