N DJAMENA, Sep 6(ABC): Chad s heaviest seasonal rainfall in over 30 years has left parts of the capital N Djamena navigable only by boat and forced thousands to flee their flooded homes over the past month, according to aid groups and the state weather agency.
In N Djamena s eighth district, families have piled into wooden boats to cross streets that have been awash with fetid flood water since the end of July.
Floods are not uncommon during the central African country s rainy season, which usually runs from May to October in its central and southern regions. But this time, the rains came early and were more abundant, quickly overwhelming drainage channels and ponds.
“None of the (eighth) district s neighbourhoods were spared by the floods this year, it s really sad to see so many people suffering,” said resident Hassan Hissein Acheik, 38, standing by a vast stretch of riffling floodwater.