Disasters, Conflicts and Migration
Natural Disasters |
||
---|---|---|
Type |
Yes / No |
Comments / Details |
Drought |
Yes |
Benin is characterized by unusually dry conditions. This is due primarily to two important factors. Firstly, the situation of the coast which is rather well protected from western winds; secondly, the Atakora Barrier in the West and Northwest, which decreases the amount of rainfall |
Earthquakes |
No |
From the past 50 years ago. There was not any significant Earthquake in Benin. |
Epidemics |
Yes |
The following diseases are of concern in Benin: meningitis, Cholera, Lassa fever, diarrhoea, tuberculosis, AIDS, yellow fever and malaria. Further info here. The first case of dengue fever was observed in May 2019 in the Atlantic department of Benin. Between April 26 and July 29, 2019, the epidemic spread to the Littoral and Ouémé departments. Link. The COVID-19 pandemic has spread around the world. Benin recorded the first case of Covid-19 in March 2020 and the number of confirmed positive cases increased to 2683 confirmed cases and the country deplores 41 deaths related to COVID-19 as of October 29, 2020. |
Extreme Temperatures |
Yes |
In Benin, winter, from November to January, is hot: in the north it's often torrid, and highs can exceed 35 °C (95 °F), while along the coast it's less hot, with highs around 31/32 °C (88/90 °F), but more humid, and with a bit of cloudiness in the morning. |
Flooding |
Yes |
Cotonou, as in all large coastal cities, is exposed to rising water levels. Experts and institutions responsible for the issue of global warming monitor and alert on the issue. The economic capital of Benin is indeed threatened, because water is eating away at the land. Furthermore, the water level of the Niger and Ouémé rivers has risen. This poses a risk of flooding in several municipalities in Benin in the period from August 17 to 20, 2023. According to the flood alert bulletin from the Interinstitutional Forecast and Alert Unit (CIPA), the Ouémé River reached a level of 924 cm in Zagnanado and 675 cm in Bonou. The populations of the municipalities under threat are Zagnanado, Bonou, Adjohoun, Malanville and Karimama. Link |
Insect Infestation |
Yes |
|
Mudslides |
Yes |
Due to heavy rains during the rainfall seasons, some lands and soils are abusively deteriorated in the north and plateau zones. |
Volcanic Eruptions |
No |
There are no known active volcanoes in Benin. |
High Waves / Surges |
Benin has about 120 coastlands opening to Atlantic Sea (located in Guinea Golf). The country is very exposed to any eventual tsunami or floods which can be caused by high waves in case of major earthquake happened in the ocean |
|
Wildfires |
Yes |
Despite of some strong measurements adopted by the Benin government to sensitize the local population; the country remained exposed to wildfires during the dry seasons. Wildfires are usually caused by traditional hunters who continue to hunt wild animals in the large forest reserves. |
High Winds |
Yes |
The harmattan, a hot and dry wind coming from the Sahara, blows across the entire territory during the dry season. Regular updates here |
Other Comments |
No |
|
Man-Made Issues |
||
Civil Strife |
Yes |
Despite its profile as a stable country in the sub region, Benin knows enough strikes due to the presence of the many layers of civil societies who claim to oppose to some political and economic reforms initiated by the various passed governments and actual government that been known the country. That's situation is exposing Benin to an unpredictable civil strike. |
International Conflict |
Yes |
Considered a country spared from the jihadist threat since the start of the armed conflict in the Sahel zone, Benin suddenly became, in February 2022, the victim of three terrorist attacks in the W national park. This park is shared between Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso. Nowadays there are terrorist threats, banditry, and the risk of kidnapping in the area located less than 50 km from the borders with Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria in the departments of Atacora, Alibori and Borgou. |
Internally Displaced Persons |
No |
N/A |
Refugees Present |
No |
N/A |
Landmines / UXO Present |
No |
N/A |
Other Comments |
Food insecurity during the lean season. the water contamination due to the households remained without potable water, malnutrition in the regions. |
For more detailed database on disasters by country, please see this link
Calamities and Seasonal Effects
Seasonal Effects on Transport |
||
---|---|---|
Type |
From (month) to (month) |
Comments |
Primary Road Transport |
The primary roads are in majority in good conditions as they are asphalted and paved by locations. Rare construction projects exist by this around in the country. Some recent constructions are noted ended around 2015 to deserve borders to Nigeria (asphalted road-Segbana wara, Mallanville-Iloua and Ndali-Nikki-Chicandou). However, there was a parfait rehabilitation road project done between Perere and Biro. But, in some parts of the north of the country can be affected during the rainy season especially between Ndali - Djugu and Natintingou. |
May - October |
Secondary Road Transport |
The secondary roads are generally poor roads which can be deteriorated very quickly in the rainy season making them impracticable for heavy and some categories of the lighter vehicles. |
May - mi-November |
Rail Transport |
The rail transport is very poor exclusively the old train is still functioning between Parakou and Cotonou. Transporting some goods. |
In all seasons |
Air Transport |
The heavy rain and storms in the rainy season might cause some delays of flights in Cotonou international airport. The small aerodromes in Parakou, Kandi are in very poor condition. Not national or international flight are being noted. |
May - November |
Waterway Transport |
The port of Cotonou suffers from congestion sometimes due to heavy flows of maritime traffics and especially during the rainy season. |
May - November |
The season of cotton harvest in the north of the country, has a big impact on the trucks availability. In Benin, transporters have become accustomed to cash payments (Cash and Carry). Most of the transporters doesn’t have legal documents or cannot declare the exact number of his trucks. As a result, truck owners prefer to divide themselves into small groups of truck owners with the only objective to simply continue their business without attracting the attention of tax departments to pay huge amounts of road transport taxes. The farmers and merchants are using the cheapest trucks owned by individuals or some small companies. They use the type of trucks suitable for their transport are mainly from 25 to 35 mt or even less due to the bad roads from different locations (especially in the north-west and centre). Most of the secondary and tertiary roads are in bad condition as well as it is difficult for heavy trucks (more than 20 mt) to use them during the rainy season.
Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling (economic, social, climate…) |
||
---|---|---|
Activity |
Comments |
From <month> to <month> |
Storage |
It is very difficult to find big storage capacity in Benin. There is no high limited storage structure in all over the country. Only the cotton factories have big storages. |
January to December |
Handling |
Due to the high rate of unemployment, daily workers are available around the year. |
|
Other |
Due to the limited capacity in storage and the difficult transportation during the rainy season, it is highly recommended to pre-position humanitarian assistance (Food, NFI and other) closer to the beneficiaries before the rainy season. |
|
Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response
Government
The Government asked the Coordination of the UN agencies to work together with the ministries and the UN system through a programme which brings all agencies and institutions of the United Nations System together to work towards the realization of Benin's development strategy. It is based on one of the integrated policies and services, and the real-time monitoring of the joint action plan. A leader and leadership of the Country Teams is based on mutual accountabilities of each agency, with a strengthened coordination function led by the Resident Coordinator, with the involvement of all members of the Country Team to reach the expected results of the UN in Benin. The single budget framework provides a holistic and transparent view of the entire UN contribution in the country as it relates the planning and costs of all Single Program activities. A Common Operation allows for the implementation of common operations and more efficient common services. A Common Communication facilitates coherence in messaging and advocacy on standards and operationalization. It allows a harmonized strategic dialogue of the Country Team vis-à-vis national and international partners.
More information are available via thus link.
Humanitarian/Development Community.
Agency |
Address |
Contact numbers |
Type of operations |
---|---|---|---|
UNICEF |
01 BP 2289 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 30 02 66/ (229) 21 30 09 42 |
Child protection |
UNFPA |
01BP.506 Zone Résidentielle - Lot 115 - Cotonou |
Tel: (+229) 21 31 53 66/ 21 31 44 13 |
Gender equality, improvement of health |
UNDP |
01BP.506 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 31 30 45 / 46 / 79 |
Reduction of poverty, fight against HIV/AIDS, Development |
OIT |
01 BP 4853 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel/Fax: (+ 229) 21 31 01 76 |
Workers’ Rights, Workers’ Health |
UNDSS |
01BP.506 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 31 30 45 / 46 / 79 |
Safety and security of UN operations in the country |
FAO |
01BP 1369 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 31 42 45 - 21 31 44 29 |
Food Security |
OMS |
01 B.P. 918 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21-30-19-07/21-30-17-53 |
Health |
IOM |
08 BP 1066 Cotonou – BENIN
|
Tel: (+229) 21 30 28 98/99 |
Refugees, Immigration protection |
WORLD BANK |
03B.P.2112 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 30 58 57 - 21 30 58 97 - 21 30 58 49 - 21 30 17 77 |
Financial and technical support to the poor countries |
IMF |
08 BP 989 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 30 14 31 |
Fight against poverty, Loan to the country in financial difficulties |
Banque africaine de développement (BAD) |
Immeuble DIBOUSSE 3ème Etage, Aile Gauche Boulevard de la Marina. Cotonou – BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 90 30 40 42 |
Financial and technical support to the poor countries |
Banque ouest-africaine de développement (BOAD) |
01 BP 268 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 31 59 35 |
Financial and technical support to the poor countries |
UNESCO |
01 BP 506 Cotonou - BENIN |
(+229) 95 05 39 69 - 97 27 74 41 (+229)20 21 30 12- 21 31 30 45 (+229)21 31 30 46 - 21.31.30.79
|
Culture, communication, Information, education and sciences |
ONUSIDA |
01BP.506 COTONOU -BENIN
|
Tel/Fax: (+229). 21.30.43.74
|
fight against HIV/AIDS |
ONUHABITAT |
01BP.506 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 31 30 45 / 46 / 79 |
Environment healthy, City Development |
WFP |
BP. 506, Cotonou, BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 30 09 73 & 21 31 55 03 |
Food security |
UPU |
06 BP 2114 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 33 43 08
|
Universal Access to communication |
Catholic Relief Service USCC |
01 BP 518 Cotonou -BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 30 85 38 |
Relief and development |
SNV (Organisation Néerlandaise de Développement) |
01 BP 1048 Cotonou -BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 31 35 59 |
Community development |
OXFAM Québec |
04 BP 171 Cotonou -BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 30 04 50 |
Advocacy and development |
UNOPS |
01 BP 506 Cotonou -BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 91473838 |
Projects and services |
USAID |
01 BP 2012 Cotonou -BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 30 05 13/ 21 30 17 92 |
US Gov Aid and development agency |
USADF |
08 B.P. 546 Cotonou -BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 31 60 67 |
Aid and development agency |
Plan International |
08 BP 699 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 30 39 51/ 21 30 64 97 |
Community development |
PSI (Population Services International) |
08 BP 0876 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) +229 96 95 13 83 |
Sexual and reproductive health |
Enabel (Belgian Development Agency) |
02 BP 8118 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 30 59 37 |
Belgian Development Agency |
GIZ |
08 BP 1132 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 31 03 95 |
German Development Agency |
CARITAS Benin |
04 BP 1213 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 14 14 52/ |
Relief and development |
AFD (Agence Française de Développement) |
01 BP 38 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 31 35 80 /21 31 35 81 |
French Development Agency |
UNCDF |
01 BP 506 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : +(229) 21 31 30 45 |
Development and industries |
UNHCR |
08 BP 1066 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 30 28 98/ 21 30 28 99 |
Refugee |
Care International |
60 BP 1153 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 30 44 00 |
Relief and development |
Handicap International |
C/130, rue 6.060 Aïdjèdo, Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 32 06 67 |
Relief and development |
Médecin sans frontières (MSF) |
01 BP 3943 Cotonou - BENIN. Lot B5 c/316, Rue 374, Cotonou |
N/A |
Medical and humanitarian aid |
Médecins du Monde Suisse (MdM) |
04 BP 1087 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 30 50 78 |
Medical and humanitarian aid |
AFRICARE |
04 BP 806 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 30 20 12 |
Community Development |
Aide et Action |
08 BP 0591 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 30 65 11 |
Community Development |
American Peace Corps |
01 BP 971 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 31 47 81 |
International solidarity and Community Development |
Croix Rouge Allemande |
01 BP 504 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 32 08 95 |
Relief |
NEPAD |
08 BP 803 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel : (+229) 21 31 70 79 |
Development |
SOS Village d'enfant |
01 BP 82 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 03 92 67 |
Child protection |
Terre des Hommes |
04 BP 924 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 30 72 92 |
Community Development |
World Peace |
01 BP 1852 Cotonou - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 21 61 32 63 |
Nutrition and child protection |
Croix Rouge Beninoise |
BP 01 Porto-Novo - BENIN |
Tel: (+229) 95 74 78 82 |
Relief |