HEAVY FLOODING IN SURINAME'S INTERIOR DISPLACES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000266 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG DEPT FOR OCS/ACS/WHA - RBRANSON DEPT FOR WHA/PD APRUITT, GADAMS, EDETTER DEPT FOR PA/PRS USAID FOR OFDA/W USAID FOR REBECCA ROHRER PLEASE PASS FOR PEACE CORPS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV PGOV PREL EAID ECON NS SUBJECT: HEAVY FLOODING IN SURINAME'S INTERIOR DISPLACES THOUSANDS OF VILLAGERS PARAMARIBO 00000266 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Heavy flooding associated with significant rainfall over the last six days is affecting an estimated 175 villages located along Suriname's interior riverways. The government has yet to declare the floods a national disaster, but is calling the situation a "serious crisis." The government has not yet formally requested outside assistance. Details on loss of life and property are still l unclear. Meteorologists are predicting continued rain and rising water levels in coming days in the affected areas. Eight Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) are being evacuated from the affected areas, one on May 8 by air and seven on May 9 via boat and overland transport; no other PCVs are threatened by high waters. No other AMCITS are known to be affected by the flooding at the moment. Post will continue to monitor and report on the situation. ¶2. (U) Severe flooding is hitting vast areas of the Upper Suriname, Tapanahony, Lawa and Upper Marowijne Rivers, with the Upper Suriname area being the hardest hit. (Note: These rivers lie in southeastern Suriname and the remote villages along them are often only reachable by boat or aircraft. End Note.) There are 15,000 people living in the Upper Suriname alone. Water is reportedly two meters high in some villages and several airstrips in the areas are no longer usable. Many schools and agricultural plots stand underwater. Nine of 12 clinics in the region remain open. According to press accounts, many villagers were unable to secure their food supply and personal possessions as the flooding caught many by surprise. Media also reports that many villagers were able to flee in time to higher ground in their village or surrounding jungle. There have been no reports of loss of life as yet and damage estimates have not yet been tallied. The water level of the Brokopondo water reservoir, operated by the Alcoa-subsidiary bauxite concern Suralco, remains within safe standards. ¶3. (SBU) Belfon Aboikoni, the traditional leader (Granman) of the Sarammaca Maroon tribe (descendants of escaped slaves) that inhabit the affected area, stated that people are in need of emergency food supplies, medicines, tents, and clothing. The scope of the need is not yet known. In a conversation with the chargi, the Organization for American States (OAS) representative in Suriname said that Granman Aboikoni was unhappy with the government's slow response and failure to contact him directly about needed assistance; the Granman also plans to request emergency assistance from the OAS. Aboikoni also reportedly blamed Brazilian mining in the region for the floods because it has altered the region's topography and disturbed normal water flow. ¶4. (U) In a midday press conference, Minister of Defense Ivan Fernald and national disaster response coordinator Lt. Colonel Jerry Slijngard emphasized the seriousness of the situation and said the scope of the flooding is like nothing Suriname has seen before, although others claim that similar flooding occurred roughly forty years ago. The National Coordinating Commission for Disaster Planning (NCCR) is coordinating Suriname's response in collaboration with military, police, the Red Cross, and the Medical Mission (agency responsible for health care in the interior). The government's proactive stance contrasts its initial slow start when Minister of Regional Development Michel Filisi downplayed the flooding in media events over the weekend. A Red Cross spokesman said his organization is standing by to provide assistance as needed, but that their local supplies are limited. The NCCR has developed an evacuation plan, but at the moment is concentrating on moving people to higher ground and will only implement the plan if necessary. Government officials say that providing security to displaced persons and to property left behind is a key component of the mission. ¶5. (U) According to Minister Fernald, it is not yet clear whether the Government of Suriname (GOS) will request foreign assistance, but that this would be determined after current situation assessments are finalized. Suriname PARAMARIBO 00000266 002.3 OF 002 still has U.S.-donated humanitarian relief supplies housed in a disaster warehouse built with U.S. military assistance, but some portion of that has been shared with disaster situations in neighboring countries since. The Embassy has already received a direct request from Suriname's Chief of Police Delano Braam for five small generators and three satellite phones to aid the police in their missions in the disaster area. Based on the scale of the disaster and the limited resources of Suriname, Post expects the GOS to request additional assistance from its international partners in the coming days as the scope of the disaster unfolds and likely escalates. LEONARD