Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby has declared a state of emergency over flooding that is affecting more than a million people in the country.

Floods are not uncommon during Chad’s rainy season, which usually runs from May to October in its southern regions. But this year, the rains came early and were the heaviest in decades.

He added that the flooding has affected 636 localities in 18 out of 23 provinces in the country, the worst affected are the southern provinces of Mayo Kebbi Est, Logone Occidental, Tandjile, Moyen-Chari and Mandoul.

Deby also said the floodwaters have swallowed up more than 465,000 hectares of fields and 19,000 heads of livestock.

N’Djamena, the capital, has not been spared either – hundreds of people there have fled their homes due to flooding in the last few days.

Deby said the government has put in place a response plan to provide shelter, food and sanitation.

The United Nations says 5.5 million Chadians need “emergency humanitarian aid”, while the World Bank says 42 percent of the 16 million population lives in poverty.