Geneva - Flooding across West Africa has affected half a million people according to the latest figures, the UN humanitarian relief office, OCHA, said Friday.

"It is far worse and more serious than last year when 65 000 people were affected by the floods," said OCHA spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs.

Twelve countries were affected from Senegal to Niger and from Ghana to Mali. Up to 60 deaths had been confirmed so far, with the worst hit countries being Birkina Faso, (33 people dead); Togo (20) and Ghana (six). There was also one death confirmed in Liberia.

Ghana gave particular cause for concern where 260 000 people were affected. Thousands of homes had been destroyed in the Upper East Region and bridges and crops had been devastated also. The UN was considering sending a disaster management team. - Sapa-DPA