Benin will receive US $6.4 million to repair flood damage that occurred in 2010. Heavy rains caused damage to 278 schools and destroyed more than 50 000 houses.

Credit from the International Development Association was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors. It will be used to upgrade, clean and repair urban drainage networks, for solid waste management, and wastewater and sanitation infrastructure. It will also support a more effective disaster risk preparedness and management plan.

World Bank Country Director for Benin Ousmane Diagana said that by focusing on upgrades for drainage networks and municipal solid waste collection, the funds will restore much needed sanitary services, and will benefit poor families by helping to prevent future losses.

The project will directly benefit people in the Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, Seme-Podji, Ouidah and Porto municipalities. According to the World Bank, the infrastructure improvements also will reduce any health hazards related to the mix of rain runoff with latrine and septic tank contents that occurred in 2010.