First housing project off the ground for Logone flood victims

A joint housing project between Ministère de l’Economie, de la Planification et de l’Aménagement du Territoire and the World Bank (Minepat-WB), at the Far North in Cameroon is ready to accommodate occupants.

The 51 units all made of local material in Begue-Palam located at about 60 km from Yagoua near the Logone River was reconstructed because the first settlers were affected by floods in 2012 and 2013.

The first phase is the construction of 233 units which include 51 houses at Begue-Palam, at a cost of 100 million F. The first beneficiaries are the residents located within 30 m from the dam.

During the field visit, Minepat was represented by the Director of infrastructure, Charles Azola Azola while Emeran Serge Menang Evouna represented the WB. The DG of Semry and the Coordinator of PULCI are also part of this project. A total of 4,000 homes are to be built costing 427 million F.

The allies of the Yagoua-Begue-Palam-Pouss-Maga-Guirvidig project assessed the work progress on the various sites selected for the resettlement of the inhabitants living in areas near the Maga dam and along the Logone River dike which pose as a threat.

Despite the delay of work from the original schedule, the Minepat and WB partners were satisfied with the effective start of the development and above all the quality of work achieved.

The reason for this project was in search of substantial solutions to the flood issues at the Far North region. The Cameroonian government negotiated and obtained a loan of 54 billion F from the World Bank to finance PULCI. It is a project that specifically covers the Mayo-Danay department.

The funds disbursed will be used to finance the three components of the project. First to rehabilitate the main hydraulic structures for rice production and defense against flooding, to strengthen the Maga dam and the Logone River dike of 70 km and other related mechanisms will be reinforced.

These funds will also be used to develop strategic plans for disaster risk management and emergency situations and for adequate information to communities along the project.

In the last part, reinforcement in the form of institutional support, managed by SEMRY for sustainable management and operation of hydraulic structures will be worked on.