Mali's government declared a national state of emergency on Friday in response to severe flooding that has devastated the country over the past few weeks, resulting in at least 30 deaths since June. The floods have displaced or affected 47,374 people across 7,077 households nationwide.

The capital city of Bamako has seen significant impacts, with 563 households and 4,639 people affected, and five deaths reported. The region of Gao in northern Mali has been the worst hit, with 9,936 people affected and six deaths.

The flooding is part of a broader crisis affecting the entire Sahel region, where heavy rains have also caused severe flooding in neighboring countries, including Niger, where 217 people have died, and Chad, where dozens have lost their lives.

In response to the disaster, Mali's cabinet has allocated 4 billion CFA francs ($7 million) to stockpile essential food supplies and provide assistance to affected households. The government's declaration of a state of emergency aims to mobilize resources and coordinate relief efforts more effectively to address the ongoing crisis.