More water supply to Central Africa from Cameroon

Cameroon’s water utility said on Friday it secured $192.6 million in loans from Belgian bank Dexia (DEXI.BR: Quote) and China to extend water supply in the Central African nation where cholera has killed dozens in recent weeks.

More than half of the country’s people lack access to potable water, according to the United Nations Development Programme, leaving them vulnerable to disease.

Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation said in a press release that China had extended a 44.5 billion CFA loan to complete a project launched in 2007 aimed at boosting water access in the commercial centre of Douala by 2010.

It added that Belgium’s Dexia bank has agreed to loan another 40 billion CFA to reinforce the Douala water project and to extend water availability to 52 other population centres around the country.

Some 59 people have died over the past two weeks due to a recent cholera outbreak in Cameroon’s north.

Reuters.