15 September 2008
Adjohoun — Awadjii Yekin is a 30-year-old farmer in Gangbam, a village in Adjohun, which is 60 kilometres east of Cotonou. He grew up following his father in the fields, until he came to work those fields himself.
Normally, his five hectares of land produce enough to feed him, his wife and their two children. But in recent years, his worries grew with the rising river. This year, the annual river flooding was more massive than before, flooding his home in which he treads shoulder-deep in water. He says he has precariously set his house on piles of rock to buy more time, but that he fears, eventually, he cannot escape the water.
"Before, for each harvest, I had tons of beans. I could sell half of them and save the other half for my family. The beans earned me more than USD$200. I would also harvest about four tons of corn. Not anymore.
"My wife sells food. But now she can no longer do that since her food products have died. It is so difficult, so painful. We feel lost.
"It is hard because we are hungry. Before, eating was such a simple act. Now, it is only when we have food that we eat. And if we do not have any food, than we simply settle with an empty stomach.
"This situation creates all types of new fears. What if my wife will not put up with this situation and decides to take her things and leave? This situation could tear apart couples. But I hope that God will never allow that to happen to my family.
"I have children who are supposed to start school soon, but I do not know where I will find the money to pay their school fees. What we would like now is money. We are counting on the government to help us."
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
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