Torrential rains have battered Mayo Danay in the Far North region of Cameroon in recent weeks, with the city of Yagoua bearing the brunt of the unprecedented downpour.
At least ten fatalities, entire neighborhoods submerged, 185 primary schools and 13 high schools flooded, and the loss of over 1,100 livestock, were reported part of extensive damage by the rains.
As a result, many residents are unable to meet basic needs such as food and shelter.
"The rain took us by surprise in the middle of the night. Our kitchen utensils are gone—pots disappeared, and our sheep, chickens, and goats are nowhere to be found. I'm now in the water, trying to cope, but we can't even light a fire," Litassou Daniel, a local victim of the floods described the dire situation.
Another displaced resident, Boussate Lydie, expressing her frustration said, "Every year, we face this same threat from floods. Our situation never improves. We're given tents to stay in, but they don’t last—once the sun comes, they are ruined. We’ve lost goats, sheep, and many homes have collapsed. We’re pleading with the authorities to help us."
The downpour has also led to the destruction of a critical bridge connecting Maga to Yagoua, further isolating certain neighborhoods.
Cameroonian Minister of Urban Development, Célestine Ketcha Courtes, while he visited the site to assess the damage and outline immediate actions, said, "We saw the bridge is completely destroyed.
"We’ve committed to mobilizing companies next Monday to implement a temporary solution that will reconnect Maga to the rest of the department, ensuring the population can move more easily."
The government has announced 350 million CFA francs in aid for the victims, though many locals consider this amount insufficient, given the scale of the crisis.
For now, canoes remain the only viable means of transportation, and there are fears the region could become completely cut off if urgent steps are not taken.
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